Trump orders federal agencies to stop using Anthropic AI tech ‘immediately’

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 and unexpected order came as 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, which in July signed a $200 million contract with Pentagon, wants assurances that the Defense Department will not use its AI models will not be used for fully autonomous weapons or mass domestic surveillance of Americans.

The Pentagon had set a deadline of 5:01 p.m. ET Friday for Anthropic to agree to its demands to allow the Pentagon to use the technology for all lawful purposes. If Anthropic did not meet that deadline, 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 a post on Truth Social.

“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!”

There will be a Six Month phase out period for Agencies like the Department of War who are using Anthropic’s products, at various levels,” Trump said.

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

On Friday, another major AI company, OpenAI, said it has the same “red lines” in the use of its technology by the Pentagon or 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 that was viewed by CNBC.

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

OpenAI’s contract was for the use of AI models in non-classified use cases, which included everyday office tasks.

Anthropic’s contract included classified work.

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