Trump Directs Federal Agencies to Phase Out Anthropic AI Technology
President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he is ordering all federal agencies to phase out the use of Anthropic technology. This decision comes in the wake of an unusually public dispute between the company and the Pentagon over artificial intelligence safety protocols. Trump's remarks were made just over an hour before the Pentagon's deadline for Anthropic to allow unrestricted military use of its AI technology or face significant consequences.
Clash Over AI Safety and National Security
The conflict centers on a defense contract that highlighted a fundamental clash over AI's role in national security. Key concerns involve how increasingly capable machines could be deployed in high-stakes scenarios, including those involving lethal force, sensitive information, or government surveillance. Anthropic, the creator of the chatbot Claude, had sought narrow assurances from the Pentagon that its technology would not be used for mass surveillance of Americans or in fully autonomous weapons systems.
However, after months of private negotiations erupted into public debate, Anthropic stated in a Thursday announcement that new contract language, presented as a compromise, included legal terms that could allow these safeguards to be disregarded at will. CEO Dario Amodei emphasized that the company "cannot in good conscience accede" to the Defense Department's demands, citing ethical concerns about AI safety.
Pentagon Ultimatum and Broader Risks
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued an ultimatum this week, threatening to not only cancel Anthropic's contract but also designate the company as a "supply chain risk." This label, typically applied to foreign adversaries, could severely disrupt Anthropic's critical partnerships with other businesses and derail its meteoric rise from a little-known San Francisco research lab to one of the world's most valuable startups.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell asserted that opening up use of the technology is essential to prevent jeopardizing critical military operations. He stated that the military "has no interest 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." However, officials have not detailed specific intended uses for the technology, leaving room for ambiguity.
Industry Polarization and Political Reactions
The dispute has further polarized the tech industry, with defense undersecretary Emil Michael lashing out at Amodei on social media, accusing him of having a "God-complex" and endangering national safety. In contrast, a growing number of tech workers from rivals like OpenAI and Google voiced support for Amodei's stance in an open letter, warning that the Pentagon is attempting to divide companies through fear tactics.
Elon Musk, whose xAI also has military contracts, sided with the Trump administration, claiming on his platform X that "Anthropic hates Western Civilization." This comment referenced a previous version of Claude's guiding principles that encouraged consideration of non-Western perspectives. Meanwhile, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman surprisingly aligned with Anthropic, questioning the Pentagon's "threatening" approach and expressing trust in the company's safety commitments.
Legislative and Expert Concerns
Republican and Democratic lawmakers, along with former Defense Department AI leader retired Air Force Gen. Jack Shanahan, have raised concerns about the Pentagon's aggressive tactics. Shanahan, who faced similar tech worker opposition during Project Maven in the first Trump administration, expressed sympathy for Anthropic's position, noting that its red lines are "reasonable" and that AI models are not yet ready for prime time in national security settings, especially for autonomous weapons.
He warned that "painting a bullseye on Anthropic garners spicy headlines, but everyone loses in the end," highlighting the potential negative outcomes of the standoff. As the deadline passed, the situation remains tense, with Anthropic indicating it will work to enable a smooth transition to another provider if necessary, underscoring the high stakes for both national security and the AI industry's future.
