US President Donald Trump has directed all federal agencies to immediately stop using technology developed by Anthropic, escalating a growing dispute between the White House and the artificial intelligence firm. The announcement was made on Truth Social, where Trump stated that the government would no longer do business with the company. The move follows tensions over Anthropic’s refusal to grant the US military unrestricted access to its AI systems.
The conflict intensified after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described Anthropic as a “supply chain risk,” a designation that could bar military contractors from engaging in commercial activity with the company. Anthropic has said it will challenge any such classification in court, arguing that the designation would be legally unsound and set a troubling precedent. The company has also stated that it has not received formal communication from the White House regarding the final status of negotiations.
Anthropic previously expressed concerns about its AI tools being used for mass surveillance or fully autonomous weapons, while Pentagon officials insisted the technology must be available for any lawful purpose. Trump said the company’s systems would be phased out of government work over six months and warned of possible civil and criminal consequences if cooperation is not ensured during the transition. Anthropic has indicated it would facilitate a smooth shift to alternative providers if required.
