The US defence secretary designated the AI firm a ‘provide chain danger’ after it refused to take away guardrails on its know-how.
Printed On 18 Mar 2026
The administration of United States President Donald Trump has mentioned in a court docket submitting that the Pentagon’s blacklisting of Anthropic was justified and lawful, opposing the factitious intelligence firm’s high-stakes lawsuit difficult the choice.
The administration made its feedback in a court docket submitting on Tuesday.
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Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth designated Anthropic, the maker of well-liked AI assistant Claude, a nationwide safety provide chain danger on March 3 after the corporate refused to take away guardrails towards its know-how getting used for autonomous weapons and home surveillance.
The Trump administration’s submitting says Anthropic is unlikely to reach its claims that the US authorities’s motion violated speech protections below the US Structure’s First Modification, asserting that the dispute stems from contract negotiations and nationwide safety considerations, not retaliation.
“It was solely when Anthropic refused to launch the restrictions on using its merchandise — which refusal is conduct, not protected speech — that the President directed all federal businesses to terminate their enterprise relationships with Anthropic,” the administration’s authorized submitting mentioned. The submitting, from the US Justice Division, mentioned that “nobody has purported to limit Anthropic’s expressive exercise”.
Anthropic’s lawsuit in California federal court docket asks a decide to dam the Pentagon’s determination whereas the case performs out. Some authorized consultants say the corporate seems to have a sturdy case that the federal government overreached.
In an announcement, Anthropic mentioned it was reviewing the federal government’s submitting. The corporate mentioned that “in search of judicial overview doesn’t change our longstanding dedication to harnessing AI to guard our nationwide safety, however it is a crucial step to guard our enterprise, our prospects, and our companions.”
The White Home didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Provide chain danger
Trump has backed Hegseth’s transfer, which excludes Anthropic from a restricted set of navy contracts. But it surely may harm the corporate’s repute and trigger billions of {dollars} in losses this yr, in accordance with its executives.
The designation got here after months of negotiations between the Pentagon and Anthropic reached an deadlock, prompting Trump and Hegseth to denounce the corporate and accuse it of endangering American lives with its use restrictions.
Anthropic has disputed these claims and mentioned AI shouldn’t be but secure sufficient for use in autonomous weapons. The corporate mentioned it opposes home surveillance as a matter of precept.
In its March 9 lawsuit, Anthropic mentioned that the “unprecedented and illegal” designation violated its free speech and due course of rights, whereas working afoul of a regulation requiring federal businesses to comply with particular procedures when making selections.
The Pentagon individually designated Anthropic a provide chain danger below a special regulation that would broaden the order to your complete authorities.
Anthropic is difficult that transfer in a second lawsuit in a Washington, DC, appeals court docket.
