tech
February 28, 2026
Trump blacklists Anthropic over AI clash with Pentagon
President Donald Trump has ordered federal agencies to immediately halt the use of artificial intelligence systems developed by Anthropic
TL;DR
- President Donald Trump has ordered a government-wide halt and a six-month phase-out for federal agencies using Anthropic's AI technology.
- The directive stems from a dispute over contractual safeguards in Anthropic's AI that restrict its use for mass surveillance and autonomous weapons.
- Pentagon officials want these safeguards removed, arguing they hinder military operations during wartime or crises.
- Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei refused the request, stating the company would not support uses conflicting with democratic norms or posing unacceptable risks.
- Trump accused the company of being run by 'leftwing nut jobs' and endangering American lives and national security.
- The order formalizes a prior threat to designate Anthropic a 'supply chain risk'.
- Anthropic had a contract worth up to $200 million to deploy its AI on classified Pentagon networks for various intelligence and operational functions.
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