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Timeline Policy & regulation SIU-LDG-2026-010

Pentagon labels Anthropic a supply-chain risk after it refuses to drop safeguards

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth designates the Claude developer a supply-chain risk, a label usually reserved for foreign adversaries, and President Trump tells agencies to stop using it.

Official portrait of Pete Hegseth in front of U.S. flags
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who announced the designation. Photo: Chad McNeeley, U.S. Department of Defense / Public domain

Talks broke down after Anthropic insisted its models not be used for mass surveillance of Americans or for fully autonomous weapons; the Pentagon wanted use for “all lawful purposes”. Hegseth said contractors working with the military could not do business with Anthropic and set a six-month phase-out. The Pentagon formally notified the company on March 5.

On March 9 Anthropic filed two lawsuits, in California and in the D.C. Circuit, arguing the designation exceeds the department’s authority and punishes the company’s speech. The cases are pending.

Index treatment. None.