The US defence secretary designated the AI firm a ‘supply chain risk’ after it refused to take away guardrails on its know-how.
Published On 18 Mar 2026
The administration of United States President Donald Trump has stated in a court submitting that the Pentagon’s blacklisting of Anthropic was justified and lawful, opposing the substitute intelligence company’s high-stakes lawsuit difficult the choice.
The administration made its feedback in a court submitting on Tuesday.
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Defense 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 succeed in its claims that the US authorities’s motion violated speech protections below the US Constitution’s First Amendment, asserting that the dispute stems from contract negotiations and nationwide safety considerations, not retaliation.
“It was only when Anthropic refused to release the restrictions on the use of its products — which refusal is conduct, not protected speech — that the President directed all federal agencies to terminate their business relationships with Anthropic,” the administration’s authorized submitting stated. The submitting, from the US Justice Department, stated that “no one has purported to restrict Anthropic’s expressive activity”.
Anthropic’s lawsuit in California federal court 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 stated it was reviewing the federal government’s submitting. The firm stated that “seeking judicial review does not change our longstanding commitment to harnessing AI to protect our national security, but this is a necessary step to protect our business, our customers, and our partners.”
The White House didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Supply chain danger
Trump has backed Hegseth’s transfer, which excludes Anthropic from a restricted set of army contracts. But it may harm the corporate’s fame and trigger billions of {dollars} in losses this yr, in keeping 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 stated AI is just not but secure sufficient for use in autonomous weapons. The firm stated it opposes home surveillance as a matter of precept.
In its March 9 lawsuit, Anthropic stated that the “unprecedented and unlawful” designation violated its free speech and due course of rights, whereas operating afoul of a regulation requiring federal companies to comply with particular procedures when making selections.
The Pentagon individually designated Anthropic a provide chain danger below a special regulation that would increase the order to your entire authorities.
Anthropic is difficult that transfer in a second lawsuit in a Washington, DC, appeals court.