Trump orders US agencies to stop using Anthropic AI
Feb 28th 2026
The Trump administration barred federal use of Anthropic’s AI and labeled the company a supply chain risk after Anthropic refused Pentagon demands to drop safeguards; Anthropic plans a legal challenge while OpenAI struck its own Pentagon deal.
- The administration ordered all U.S. agencies to stop using Anthropic’s AI and said most agencies must cut ties immediately.
- Anthropic refused Pentagon demands for unrestricted access, citing concerns about domestic mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons.
- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called Anthropic a supply chain risk and officials publicly criticized the company.
- Anthropic said it will challenge the designation in court as unprecedented and legally unsound.
- OpenAI reached a Pentagon deal to supply AI to classified networks while keeping prohibitions on mass surveillance and autonomous weapons.
- Lawmakers and experts warned the supply chain risk tool is normally used for foreign adversaries and could politicize national security decisions.
- The dispute could reshape which AI companies work with the military and may benefit Anthropic’s competitors, including OpenAI and Grok.