Judge calls Pentagon's AI ban on Anthropic 'troubling' and questions First Amendment violation
38 Sources
[1]
New court filing reveals Pentagon told Anthropic the two sides were nearly aligned -- a week after Trump declared the relationship kaput | TechCrunch
Anthropic submitted two sworn declarations to a California federal court late Friday afternoon, pushing back on the Pentagon's assertion that the AI company poses an "unacceptable risk to national security" and arguing that the government's case relies on technical misunderstandings and claims that
[2]
Pentagon's 'Attempt to Cripple' Anthropic Is Troublesome, Judge Says
The US Department of Defense appears to be illegally punishing Anthropic for trying to restrict the use of its AI tools by the military, US district judge Rita Lin said during a court hearing on Tuesday. "It looks like an attempt to cripple Anthropic," Lin said of the Pentagon designating the
[3]
Anthropic Denies It Could Sabotage AI Tools During War
Anthropic cannot manipulate its generative AI model Claude once the US military has it running, an executive wrote in a court filing on Friday. The statement was made in response to accusations from the Trump administration about the company potentially tampering with its AI tools during
[4]
Judge Calls US Government Ban on Anthropic AI Tools 'Troubling'
A judge appeared skeptical of the Trump administration's rationale for banning the federal government's use of artificial intelligence technology from Anthropic PBC, a move that the Claude chatbot maker claims could cost it billions in lost revenue. During a hearing Tuesday in San Francisco, US
[5]
Pentagon appears to be 'punishing' Anthropic in violation of free speech, judge says
A US judge has said the Pentagon appears to have tried to punish Anthropic for going public with its contract dispute over the military use of AI, in violation of free speech protections. Judge Rita Lin, who is overseeing Anthropic's legal challenge to the defence department's move to brand the
[6]
US judge to weigh Anthropic's bid to undo Pentagon blacklisting
March 24 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge is set to hear oral arguments on Tuesday in a lawsuit by Anthropic seeking to block the Pentagon's blacklisting of the artificial intelligence lab over its refusal to lift certain restrictions on its Claude AI model. Anthropic's lawsuit in California federal court
[7]
Pentagon ban of Anthropic faces judge; Claude AI maker seeks injunction
If the preliminary injunction is awarded, the AI startup will be able to continue doing business with government contractors and federal agencies as its lawsuit against the Trump administration plays out in court. Without the injunction, the company has said, it could lose billions of dollars in
[8]
Anthropic and Pentagon head to court as AI firm seeks end to 'stigmatizing' supply chain risk label
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Artificial intelligence company Anthropic is asking a federal judge on Tuesday to temporarily halt the Pentagon's "unprecedented and stigmatizing" designation of the company as a supply chain risk. A hearing scheduled for Tuesday in a California federal court marks a critical
[9]
Anthropic showdown fractures Donald Trump's pact with Silicon Valley
The Pentagon's attack on Anthropic over the military use of AI has fractured the fragile truce that has reigned between Silicon Valley and Donald Trump's administration for much of the president's second term. The dissent began with Dean Ball, a former Trump official who last year wrote much of
[10]
Law expert: Anthropic suit is first major government-AI firm clash
Law expert: Anthropic suit is first major government-AI firm clash Anthropic goes to federal court in San Francisco on Tuesday (March 24) to challenge the Pentagon's move to label it a "national security supply chain risk," a designation typically reserved for foreign adversaries. Joel Dodge, the
[11]
Judge says government's Anthropic ban looks like punishment
Pages from the Anthropic website and the company's logo are displayed on a computer screen in New York on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026. Patrick Sison/AP hide caption A federal judge in San Francisco said on Tuesday the government's ban on Anthropic looked like punishment after the AI company went
[12]
Anthropic and Pentagon face off in court over ban on company's AI model
Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox Anthropic is facing off against the Department of Defense in a federal court on Tuesday afternoon, as the artificial intelligence company seeks a temporary pause on the government's decision to bar the US military and
[13]
Judge questions Pentagon's "troubling" Anthropic actions
Why it matters: The Trump administration is looking to remove Claude from federal agencies and prevent companies that do business with the Pentagon from working with the AI lab. * Agencies have started to do so, and Anthropic says some companies are rethinking contracts. What they're saying: "I
[14]
Trump administration says Anthropic refusal was 'not protected speech' in US court
In a new filing, the Trump administration backs Hegseth's designation * Pentagon defends blacklisting Anthropic as lawful national security move * Company's lawsuit claims designation violates free speech and due process * Court battle looms as experts say Anthropic may have a strong case The
[15]
Judge says Pentagon's Anthropic claims look like retaliation
On Tuesday, a federal judge signaled that the Trump administration's claims that Anthropic is a "supply chain risk" may not hold up in court, but instead will be recognized as punishment for going public with its Pentagon dispute. The case erupted into public view late last month, after Anthropic
[16]
'Attempted corporate murder' -- Judge calls on Anthropic and Department of War to explain dispute over supply chain risk | Fortune
The case -- which involves a historic first in that the Pentagon, renamed the Department of War (DOW), labeled a U.S.-led business as a supply-chain risk to national security -- is rooted in a contract negotiation that escalated quickly. The DOW wanted to add a blanket "all lawful use" clause to
[17]
'An attempt to cripple Anthropic': US judge questions Anthropic ban
"He's [President Trump] trying to teach the AI industry to fall into line like everybody else," Computer scientist Ben Goertzel tells Euronews. The US government's ban on Anthropic appears punitive, following the company's public dispute with the Pentagon over its refusal to allow unrestricted
[18]
Judge calls Pentagon's moves against AI firm Anthropic "troubling": "It looks like an attempt to cripple Anthropic"
Joe Walsh is a senior editor for digital politics at CBS News. Joe previously covered breaking news for Forbes and local news in Boston. A judge sharply questioned a lawyer for the federal government on Tuesday over the Pentagon's efforts to cut Anthropic out of its classified systems -- the
[19]
US govt says Anthropic AI an 'unacceptable risk' to military
San Francisco (United States) (AFP) - Artificial intelligence company Anthropic posed an "unacceptable risk" to military supply chains, the US government insisted Tuesday, as it defends against the tech firm's challenge to a designation as dangerous. Anthropic's Claude AI model has been in the
[20]
The Secretary of War didn't really mean it, contends US government lawyer as Anthropic gets its first day in court over Trump 2.0's risk to the nation designation. So what did he mean?
So how did Anthropic's first day in court facing off against the US Department of War (DoW) go? Well, we won't find out for a few days yet, but presiding District Judge Judy Lin of the California Northern District Court was very clear about what she sees as at being at stake here - and made clear
[21]
The next AI fight is First Amendment rights for the chatbots
The fight between Anthropic and the Pentagon looks at first like a fight about AI safety -- a principled tech company drawing ethical lines in the sand. It is at least partly that. But it's also a First Amendment case. It's a test of whether the executive branch can summarily execute its vendors
[22]
Anthropic v. US Department of War: What to know about AI court battle
Anthropic heads to a San Francisco federal court on Tuesday to seek an injunction against the US government's decision to blacklist it as a national security risk. The standoff between Anthropic and the US government is expected to come to a head on Tuesday, when the artificial intelligence
[23]
Judge says Pentagon's Anthropic ban looks like 'attempt to cripple' company
A federal judge in California hammered the Pentagon on Tuesday for its decision to label Anthropic a supply chain risk, signalling skepticism over what she described as a "troubling" move from the federal government. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin, based in San Francisco, suggested during Tuesday's
[24]
US Judge to Weigh Anthropic's Bid to Undo Pentagon Blacklisting
March 24 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge is set to hear oral arguments on Tuesday in a lawsuit by Anthropic seeking to block the Pentagon's blacklisting of the artificial intelligence lab over its refusal to lift certain restrictions on its Claude AI model. Anthropic's lawsuit in California federal
[25]
Anthropic's (first) day in court against Trump 2.0, and the Judge has some difficult questions for Secretary of War Pete Hesgeth to answer...
As Anthropic and the US Government get into the courtroom today i (first of many?), the United States District Court of the Northern District of California has provided some insight into what the Department of War is going to have to do to justify its actions against the AI tech provider. The
[26]
US judge to weigh Anthropic's bid to undo Pentagon blacklisting
A legal battle is unfolding as AI firm Anthropic challenges the Pentagon's decision to label it a national security risk. The Defense Department blacklisted Anthropic for refusing to allow its Claude AI for military surveillance or autonomous weapons. Anthropic argues the designation is an
[27]
Why cutting Anthropic from government could be harder than expected
The Trump administration will head to court this week to defend its decision to ban the federal government from using Anthropic products, but removing the technology itself may prove to be the bigger battle. The public clash between the Pentagon and Anthropic is forcing the federal government to
[28]
AI Battle Heats Up: Judge Weighs Injunction In Anthropic V. Department Of Defense
San Francisco Federal Court District Judge Rita Lin has given Anthropic until 6 p.m. PST Tuesday to provide a declaration stating that multiple government agencies have terminated or ceased the use of Anthropic's Claude model following the U.S. Department of Defense's designation of the company as
[29]
Anthropic challenges Pentagon's national security risk claim in reply to suit - The Economic Times
The company has said that the government's concerns are based on misunderstandings and retaliation for its stance on AI safety.Anthropic has submitted sworn declarations in a California federal court challenging the Pentagon's claim that it poses an "unacceptable risk to national security." The
[30]
Trump administration argues Pentagon's Anthropic ban is justified, lawful
The Trump administration is doubling down on its decision to cut ties with Anthropic, arguing in a new court filing that the move is "lawful and reasonable" and not a violation of free speech, as the artificial intelligence (AI) firm alleges. The Department of Justice (DOJ), in an expected court
[31]
Anthropic Faces Pentagon Scrutiny Over Foreign Workforce Risks
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has flagged new national security risks tied to Anthropic's hiring of foreign personnel, including workers from China. What Are The Implications Of Foreign Hiring Risks? Anthropic employs "a large number of foreign nationals to build and support its LLM
[32]
Hegseth wants Pentagon to dump Anthropic's Claude, but military users say it's not so easy
After a dispute between Anthropic and the Pentagon over guardrails for how the military could use its artificial intelligence tools, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth designated the company a supply-chain risk on March 3, barring its use by the Pentagon and its contractors following a six-month
[33]
'Nobody really knows:' Pentagon clash with Anthropic throws agencies into limbo
Federal agencies and their contractors have been left in limbo as the Trump administration moves to cut off Anthropic from government systems without formal orders amid a brewing legal battle with the AI company. As agency leaders grapple with informal directives from President Trump and the
[34]
Trump Defends Pentagon Ban On Anthropic, Calls It Legal And Justified
The Trump administration defended the Pentagon's move to blacklist Anthropic, arguing the decision was both legal and justified. The Trump administration argued in a court filing that Anthropic's First Amendment claims are "unlikely to succeed," saying the government's actions were driven by
[35]
US judge says Pentagon's blacklisting of Anthropic looks like punishment for its views on AI safety
March 24 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge said on Tuesday that the Pentagon's blacklisting of Anthropic looked like an effort to punish the artificial intelligence lab for going public with its concerns about AI safety in the military. Anthropic's lawsuit in California federal court alleges that Defense
[36]
US judge says Pentagon's Anthropic blacklisting looks like punishment for AI safety views
March 24 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge said on Tuesday that the Pentagon's blacklisting of Anthropic looked like an effort to punish the artificial intelligence lab for going public with its concerns about AI safety in the military. Anthropic's lawsuit in California federal court alleges that Defense
[37]
US judge to weigh Anthropic's bid to undo Pentagon blacklisting
March 24 (Reuters) - A U.S. judge is set to hear oral arguments on Tuesday in a lawsuit by Anthropic seeking to block the Pentagon's blacklisting of the artificial intelligence lab over its refusal to lift certain restrictions on its Claude AI model. Anthropic's lawsuit in California federal court
[38]
Hegseth wants Pentagon to dump Anthropic's Claude, but military users say it's not so easy
March 19 - Pentagon staffers, former officials and IT contractors who work closely with the U.S. military say they are reluctant to give up Anthropic's AI tools, which they view as superior to alternatives, despite orders to remove them. After a dispute between Anthropic and the Pentagon over
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A federal judge expressed skepticism about the Pentagon's decision to label Anthropic a supply-chain risk, suggesting the Trump administration may be illegally punishing the AI company for refusing to allow unrestricted military use of its Claude technology. Judge Rita Lin said the ban appears to violate free speech protections and doesn't seem tailored to national security concerns.
Judge Questions Pentagon's Actions Against Anthropic
US District Judge Rita Lin delivered sharp criticism of the Pentagon during a Tuesday hearing in San Francisco, suggesting the Department of Defense appears to be illegally punishing Anthropic for its stance on military use of AI. "It looks like an attempt to cripple Anthropic," Lin said of the supply-chain risk designation applied to the company
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. The judge added that the government's actions look like it is "punishing Anthropic for trying to bring public scrutiny to this contract dispute, which of course would be a violation of the First Amendment"2
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Source: Market Screener
The legal dispute with the Pentagon traces back to late February when President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly declared they were cutting ties with Anthropic after the company refused to allow unrestricted military use of its Claude technology
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. The Trump administration subsequently labeled the AI company a national security risk, a designation typically reserved for foreign adversaries and hostile actors2
.New Court Filings Reveal Pentagon Contradictions
Anthropics submitted two sworn declarations to the California federal court late Friday, featuring testimony from Sarah Heck, the company's Head of Policy, and Thiyagu Ramasamy, Head of Public Sector
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. The court filings reveal a striking detail: on March 4, just one day after the Pentagon formally finalized its supply-chain risk designation against Anthropic, Under Secretary Emil Michael emailed CEO Dario Amodei saying the two sides were "very close" on issues regarding autonomous weapons and mass surveillance of Americans1
.Heck directly challenged what she described as a central falsehood in the government's filings: that Anthropic demanded approval over military operations. "At no time during Anthropic's negotiations with the Department did I or any other Anthropic employee state that the company wanted that kind of role," she wrote
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. She noted that concerns about Anthropic potentially disabling technology mid-operation were never raised during negotiations but appeared for the first time in court filings1
.Technical Realities Dispute Government Claims About Sabotage AI Tools
Ramasamy, who previously spent six years at Amazon Web Services managing AI deployments for government customers, directly addressed claims that Anthropic could sabotage AI tools during military operations. "Anthropic has never had the ability to cause Claude to stop working, alter its functionality, shut off access, or otherwise influence or imperil military operations," he wrote in his declaration
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. Once the generative AI model Claude is deployed inside a government-secured, air-gapped system operated by a third-party contractor, Anthropic has no access to it1
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Source: The Hill
"Anthropic does not maintain any back door or remote 'kill switch,'" Ramasamy explained, adding that the company cannot log into Department of Defense systems to modify or disable models during operations
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. Any updates would require explicit approval from the Pentagon and action to install, and Anthropic cannot access prompts or data that military users enter into the system1
.Related Stories
First Amendment Violation Concerns Take Center Stage
Judge Lin indicated she is considering whether the ban on Anthropic AI tools constitutes a First Amendment violation, describing the government's actions as "troubling" and noting they "don't seem to be tailored to stated national security concerns"
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. During the hearing, Trump administration attorney Eric Hamilton acknowledged that Pete Hegseth has no legal authority to bar military contractors from using Anthropic for work unrelated to the Department of Defense, despite the Defense Secretary posting on X that "no contractor, supplier, or partner that does business with the United States military may conduct any commercial activity with Anthropic"2
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Source: Quartz
Anthropics has argued that the dispute has led to almost a month of "profound uncertainty" for commercial partners and "irreparable and mounting" damages
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. The company estimates that even a narrow interpretation of the order could put hundreds of millions of dollars in annual revenue at risk5
. A broader application might cut the company off from vital data center infrastructure provided by companies like Amazon and Microsoft5
.What Happens Next in the Legal Battle
Rita Lin stated she would issue a decision on Anthropic's request for a temporary injunction within the coming days
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. The judge can pause the designation only if she determines Anthropic is likely to win the overall case2
. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has said it is working to replace Anthropic technologies over the coming months with alternatives from Google, OpenAI, and xAI2
. A ruling in a second case filed at the federal appeals court in Washington, DC, is expected soon without a hearing2
.The case has sparked broader conversation about how artificial intelligence is being deployed by armed forces and whether Silicon Valley companies should defer to the government in determining how technology they develop is used for military purposes
2
. Free speech protections and the limits of executive power in punishing companies for their public positions remain central questions as this unprecedented legal battle unfolds5
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