US President Donald Trump has directed federal agencies to immediately cease using Anthropic's Claude AI, following the company's refusal to allow its use for mass surveillance or autonomous weapons. The order includes a six-month phaseout period. This decision stems from ongoing clashes between Anthropic and the Department of Defense over AI restrictions.
On Friday, February 27, 2026, President Donald Trump announced via his Truth Social platform that he is instructing every federal agency to "IMMEDIATELY CEASE" use of Anthropic's AI tools. He described the company as a "RADICAL LEFT, WOKE COMPANY" and specified a six-month phaseout for agencies such as the Department of Defense.
The order follows weeks of tension between Anthropic and government officials regarding military applications of artificial intelligence. Anthropic's Claude AI is widely used across the Pentagon, including in classified systems. The Trump administration has pushed for its use in "any lawful purpose," but Anthropic's contract prohibits deployment for mass domestic surveillance of Americans or fully autonomous offensive weapons systems without human input.
Earlier this week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei that he would invoke rarely used powers to either compel the removal of these restrictions or designate the company as a supply chain risk, potentially barring its use by the government and defense contractors. Hegseth set a Friday deadline for compliance.
In response, Amodei stated that the company, founded with a focus on AI safety, "cannot in good conscience accede to [the Pentagon's] request." He expressed concerns that powerful AI could enable mass surveillance by assembling scattered data into comprehensive profiles of individuals' lives at scale.
Michael Pastor, dean for technology law programs at New York Law School, noted that Anthropic is justified in seeking clarity on "lawful purposes," adding that unwillingness to specify on surveillance raises valid concerns.
Anthropic's stance aligns with similar policies at other firms; OpenAI CEO Sam Altman reportedly affirmed in an internal memo that his company maintains the same red lines against mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. Employees at Google and OpenAI have circulated a petition urging their companies to support Anthropic's position, warning against the Pentagon's strategy of division through fear.
Claude remains the most widely used AI system by the US military, with potential alternatives including tools from OpenAI, Google, or xAI.
