US President Donald Trump on Friday (Feb 27) ordered all federal agencies to immediately stop using technology from AI company Anthropic, escalating a public dispute between the Pentagon and the artificial intelligence firm over the military use of AI systems.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared that the US military will not be dictated by a private tech firm, writing: “THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL NEVER ALLOW A RADICAL DEPARTURE, WAKE UP SOCIETY TO DICTATE HOW OUR GREAT MILITARY FIGHTS AND WINS WARS!
He added that the decision rested with the commander-in-chief and ordered every federal agency to “IMMEDIATELY STOP all use of Anthropic technology” and announced a six-month phase-out period for departments currently using the company’s technology.
Trump warned of consequences if the company did not cooperate, declaring: “Anthropians should act together…or I will use the full power of the presidency to comply with severe civil and criminal consequences.”
He went on to state, “WE will decide the fate of our country – NOT some radical leftist AI company out of control.”
Pentagon-Anthropic clash over AI protection
The directive comes amid tensions between Anthropic and the Pentagon over safeguards governing the military’s use of AI.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei took a hard line, saying the company “cannot in good conscience accede” to demands for unlimited deployment of its technology.
The company, maker of the Claude chatbot, argued that it sought assurances that its systems would not be used for mass surveillance of Americans or fully autonomous weapons. In a statement, Anthropic said the new contract language was “framed as a compromise (but) coupled with legal provisions that would allow these warranties to be ignored at will.”
Supply chain risk warning
Military officials have warned that if Anthropic fails to comply, it could be designated a “supply chain risk,” a classification typically used for foreign adversaries that could disrupt corporate partnerships.
Defense officials also referred to the potential use of the Defense Production Act, a Cold War-era law that could expand government powers over manufacturing in the interests of national security.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the military was only seeking lawful uses, stating that “we are not interested in using AI to conduct mass surveillance of Americans (which is illegal), nor do we want to use AI to develop autonomous weapons that operate without human involvement.”
He emphasized that the Pentagon wants to “use the Anthropic model for all legal purposes.”
Deadline and next steps
Anthropic was given until 5:01 p.m. ET on Friday to respond to the Pentagon’s requests. Military officials have indicated that consequences could include contract cancellation or broader regulatory action if an agreement is not reached.
