Donald Trump has ordered all US federal agencies to immediately stop using technology developed by AI firm Anthropic, escalating a public confrontation over the military use of artificial intelligence.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the government would no longer do business with the company. “We don’t need it, we don’t want it, and will not do business with them again,” he wrote.
The decision follows a sharp dispute between Anthropic and the US Department of Defense after the company refused to grant the military what it described as “unfettered access” to its AI systems.
US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on X that Anthropic would be designated a “supply chain risk” — a move that would bar companies working with the military from engaging in commercial activity with the AI developer. If formalised, Anthropic would become the first US company to be publicly labelled in this manner.
The company said it would challenge any such designation in court, calling it “legally unsound” and warning that it would set a dangerous precedent for American firms negotiating with the government.
Anthropic’s resistance centres on concerns that its AI tools, including its flagship model Claude, could be deployed for “mass surveillance” or fully autonomous weapons systems. The Pentagon has maintained that the company must agree to “any lawful use” of its technology.
In a strongly worded statement, Anthropic said: “No amount of intimidation or punishment from the Department of War will change our position on mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons.” Trump has occasionally referred to the Defence Department as the “Department of War”.
Trump said Anthropic’s systems would be phased out of all federal government work within six months.
The impact on the company’s broader client base is expected to be limited. However, businesses that also contract with the US military may be required to stop using Anthropic’s technology for defence-related projects.
Anthropic said it had not received any formal communication from the White House or the military regarding the status of negotiations but added that it would ensure a smooth transition to another provider if the Defence Department decides to discontinue its services.
In a separate post, Trump warned the company to cooperate during the transition period or face “major civil and criminal consequences”.
Anthropic has been working with the US government and military since 2024 and was the first advanced AI developer to deploy its tools within government agencies handling classified work.
The episode marks a significant flashpoint in the growing debate over the military and surveillance applications of advanced AI technologies in the US.
