US Pentagons Ban Challenged in San Francisco Court Ruling

US Company Anthropic Sues Pentagon Over Designation as National Security Supply Chain Risk

A US company, Anthropic, and the administration of President Donald Trump are set to appear in court on Tuesday in San Francisco. The case centers around the US Defense Department’s decision last month to cut ties with Anthropic after the company refused to allow unrestricted military use of its Claude AI model.

The Pentagon designated Anthropic as a national security supply chain risk amid the company’s refusal to remove safety guardrails that prevent its artificial intelligence from being used for fully autonomous weapons and mass domestic surveillance. The designation prohibits anyone within the Defense Department or its contractors from using the technology.

Anthropic filed a lawsuit, claiming the administration’s move was “unprecedented and unlawful” and violated freedom of speech protections and due process rights. The company argues that its public advocacy for AI guardrails is protected by the First Amendment.

The White House has pushed back on Anthropic’s claims, stating that the dispute stems from contract negotiations and national security concerns rather than retaliation. However, lawmakers have accused the White House of retaliation, including Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, who penned a letter to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressing her concerns.

A hearing is scheduled for Tuesday in San Francisco, where US District Judge Rita Lin will preside over the case. The outcome is uncertain, but legal experts believe Anthropic may prevail.

Source: Al Jazeera