Donald Trump said he is directing every federal agency to cease using Anthropic’s AI technology, in a move that sharply escalates a standoff between his administration and one of the country’s most prominent artificial intelligence firms, according to Reuters.
In a Truth Social post on Friday, Trump wrote, “I am directing EVERY Federal Agency in the United States Government to IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic’s technology. We don’t need it, we don’t want it, and will not do business with them again!” and gave agencies six months to phase out the tools, including for the Defense Department, which relies on that technology.
Trump’s directive comes at the end of a public clash with the Pentagon. The Defense Department had been pushing Anthropic to drop safety restrictions on how its AI could be used by the military. The company’s CEO, Dario Amodei, said earlier this week that Anthropic “cannot in good conscience accede” to the Defense Department’s demands.
The struggle highlights broader tensions over how AI tools should be governed in national security settings. Anthropic’s products, including its Claude model, have been deployed in classified government and defense work, making them integral to some operations.
Critics of the phase-out warn that removing the firm’s technology could disrupt key workflows and force agencies to rush to onboard alternatives. Supporters of Trump’s position argue the government should not be bound to private companies that restrict how their tools can be used in defense applications.
Anthropic did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday’s directive. The coming months are likely to see intense negotiation over how, and how quickly, federal agencies unwind their reliance on the company’s AI.
