Trump orders federal agencies to stop using Anthropic AI tech 'immediately'

by · CNBC

Key Points

  • President Donald Trump ordered U.S. government agencies to "immediately cease" using technology from the artificial intelligence company Anthropic.
  • The AI startup faces pressure by the Defense Department to comply with demands that it can use the company's technology without restrictions sought by Anthropic.
  • The company wants the Pentagon to assure it that the AI models will not be used for fully autonomous weapons or mass domestic surveillance of Americans.
  • Another major AI company, OpenAI, said it has the same "red lines" as Anthropic regarding the use of its technology by the Pentagon and other customers.

President Donald Trump said Friday that he was ordering every U.S. government agency to "immediately cease" using technology from the artificial intelligence company Anthropic.

Trump's abrupt, unexpected order on Truth Social came as Anthropic faces pressure by the Defense Department to comply with demands that it be allowed to use the AI startup's technology without restrictions sought by the company.

Anthropic, which signed a $200 million contract with the Pentagon in July, wants assurances that its AI models will not be used for fully autonomous weapons or mass domestic surveillance of Americans.

The Pentagon set a deadline of 5:01 p.m. ET Friday for Anthropic to agree to its demands to allow use of the technology for all lawful purposes.

If Anthropic did not agree, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to label the company a "supply chain risk," or force it to comply by invoking the Defense Production Act.

"The Leftwing nut jobs at Anthropic have made a DISASTROUS MISTAKE trying to STRONG-ARM the Department of War, and force them to obey their Terms of Service instead of our Constitution," Trump said in his Truth Social post on Friday.

"Their selfishness is putting AMERICAN LIVES at risk, our Troops in danger, and our National Security in JEOPARDY."

"Therefore, I am directing EVERY Federal Agency in the United States Government to IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic's technology," Trump wrote.

"We don't need it, we don't want it, and will not do business with them again!"

The president also said there would be a six-month phase-out for agencies such as the Defense Department, which "are using Anthropic's products, at various levels."

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Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has said that his company "cannot in good conscience" allow the Pentagon to use its models without limitation.

In a statement on Thursday, Amodei said, "It is the [Defense] Department's prerogative to select contractors most aligned with their vision. But given the substantial value that Anthropic's technology provides to our armed forces, we hope they reconsider."

"Our strong preference is to continue to serve the Department and our warfighters — with our two requested safeguards in place," Amodei said. "Should the Department choose to offboard Anthropic, we will work to enable a smooth transition to another provider, avoiding any disruption to ongoing military planning, operations, or other critical missions. Our models will be available on the expansive terms we have proposed for as long as required."

On Friday, another major AI company, OpenAI, said it has the same "red lines" as Anthropic regarding the use of its technology by the Pentagon and other customers.

"We have long believed that AI should not be used for mass surveillance or autonomous lethal weapons, and that humans should remain in the loop for high-stakes automated decisions," Open AI CEO Sam Altman wrote in a memo seen by CNBC.

OpenAI last year signed its own $200 million contract with the Pentagon.

OpenAI's contract is for AI models in non-classified use cases, which include everyday office tasks.

Anthropic's contract with the Defense Department included classified work.

The Defense Department had no comment on Friday other than pointing to Trump's announcement.

Hegseth, in a post on X, included a screengrab of Trump's post, and cc:ed Anthropic and Amodei with the message, "Thank you for your attention to this matter."