US President Donald Trump has instructed all federal agencies to halt the use of technology provided by the artificial intelligence company Anthropic. This decision comes amidst a growing dispute over the military application of advanced AI systems. Trump expressed his firm stance on the matter through a post on Truth Social, emphasizing that American military strategies should not be dictated by what he referred to as a “radical left, woke company.”
The directive mandates an immediate cessation of Anthropic’s technology across every federal agency in the US government. Agencies currently utilizing the company’s products have been given a six-month transition period before complete discontinuation. Trump warned of severe legal consequences should Anthropic fail to comply with the order.
The conflict revolves around Anthropic’s objections to the use of its AI model, Claude, for mass domestic surveillance and the development of fully autonomous weapons. The company cited these as exceptions to its AI model’s intended lawful applications. Anthropic clarified that it had made efforts to negotiate with the Department of War but had reached an impasse on these specific points.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth labeled Anthropic as a “Supply-Chain Risk to National Security,” asserting the necessity for unrestricted access to the company’s models for lawful defense purposes. Hegseth’s directive prohibits any business engagement between Anthropic and entities associated with the US military, except for a limited six-month transitional period.
The move has drawn criticism from Democratic lawmakers, with Senator Mark Warner expressing concerns over the potential politicization of national security decisions. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Edward Markey condemned the Pentagon’s actions as an abuse of government power, denouncing it as retaliatory and unacceptable. Representative Zoe Lofgren characterized the administration’s approach as bullying tactics, while Congresswoman Valerie Foushee emphasized the importance of AI companies upholding their stated ethical standards.
