Trump Directs Federal Agencies To ‘Immediately Cease’ Use Of Anthropic Technology
President Donald Trump announced that he is ordering every federal agency to immediately stop using technology developed by AI company Anthropic, escalating a dispute between the startup and the Department of War.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said he was directing “EVERY Federal Agency in the United States Government to IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic’s technology,” while allowing for a six-month phase-out period for agencies currently relying on the company’s products. He specifically referenced the Department of War as one of the agencies using Anthropic tools “at various levels.”
Trump accused Anthropic of attempting to “STRONG-ARM the Department of War” during negotiations over how its AI systems could be deployed in military contexts. “The United States of America will never allow a radical left, woke company to dictate how our great military fights and wins wars,” Trump wrote, adding that such decisions belong to the commander-in-chief and his appointed military leadership.
The dispute reportedly centers on Anthropic’s insistence that its AI models be used in accordance with specific safeguards and terms of service, even in defense applications. According to reporting, the company has been engaged in ongoing negotiations with the Pentagon regarding the acceptable scope of military deployment for its Claude AI system.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signaled support for the president’s move, thanking Trump publicly and tagging Anthropic and CEO Dario Amodei in a post. Reports indicate that Hegseth had already been weighing whether to classify Anthropic as a potential supply chain risk and terminate the department’s relationship with the firm.
Trump warned that Anthropic must cooperate during the transition period or face further action. “Anthropic better get their act together, and be helpful during this phase out period, or I will use the Full Power of the Presidency to make them comply, with major civil and criminal consequences to follow,” he wrote.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has previously stated that the Department of War has the right to select contractors aligned with its operational vision, but emphasized the company’s belief that its technology provides substantial value and should be deployed responsibly.
The move marks one of the most significant federal breaks with a major AI developer to date, as the administration signals it will not tolerate what it views as ideological constraints on military decision-making.