Trump orders federal agencies to halt use of Anthropic AI technology

President Donald Trump directed all federal agencies Friday to immediately cease using technology developed by artificial intelligence firm Anthropic, escalating a confrontation over the company's refusal to relax safeguards for military applications. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump accused Anthropic of attempting to "strong-arm" the US military and jeopardize national security by allegedly trying to force the Defense Department to comply with its terms of service rather than US law.

Presidential Directive

"The United States of America will never allow a radical left, woke company to dictate how our great military fights and wins wars!" Trump declared, adding that decisions rest with the commander-in-chief and Pentagon leadership. He argued the company's actions were "putting American lives at risk" and placing troops and national security in jeopardy. "Therefore, I am directing every Federal Agency in the United States Government to immediately cease all use of Anthropic's technology. We don't need it, we don't want it, and will not do business with them again!" Trump said. A six-month phase-out period will be provided for agencies like the Pentagon currently using Anthropic's products.

Ongoing Dispute

The order follows Anthropic's announcement Thursday that it would not comply with a Pentagon request to relax safeguards on its AI systems, citing concerns over mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. CEO Dario Amodei stated the company opposes allowing its Claude model to be used for "mass domestic surveillance" or "fully autonomous weapons," warning that current AI systems lack the reliability needed for such applications. The administration had threatened to invoke the Defense Production Act and consider labeling Anthropic a "supply chain risk" to compel compliance.

Implications

The confrontation highlights growing tensions between the defense establishment and tech companies over the ethical boundaries of artificial intelligence in military applications. Trump's decisive action removes a major AI provider from federal contracting, potentially disrupting ongoing projects while sending a clear message that the administration will not tolerate corporate resistance to national security priorities. The six-month transition period allows agencies to identify alternative providers as the government seeks AI partners willing to align with military requirements.