WASHINGTON, District of Columbia, United States — A major legal and political confrontation unfolded on Friday, February 27, 2026, as President Donald Trump ordered all federal agencies to cease use of artificial intelligence technology developed by Anthropic. The dispute erupted after Anthropic refused to comply with demands from the United States Department of Defense (Pentagon) that its Claude AI models be available for unconditional military use.
Okay News reports that Anthropic, headquartered in San Francisco, California, argued that its technology should not be used for mass surveillance of United States citizens or deployed in fully autonomous weapons systems that operate without human oversight. In a statement, the company said, “No amount of intimidation or punishment from the Department of War will change our position on mass domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons.”
The Pentagon, based in Washington, responded that it was acting within legal authority, warning that Anthropic could face enforcement measures under the Defense Production Act. This Cold War-era law, last invoked during the Covid-19 pandemic, allows the federal government to direct private industry toward national security objectives. The Pentagon also threatened to designate Anthropic as a supply chain risk, a label usually applied to companies considered security threats, often in foreign adversary nations.
President Trump, in a post on his social media platform Truth Social, 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!” He added, “Anthropic better get their act together, and be helpful during this phase out period, or I will use the Full Power of the Presidency to make them comply, with major civil and criminal consequences to follow.”
United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said he had instructed the Pentagon to enforce restrictions immediately. “Effective immediately, no contractor, supplier, or partner that does business with the United States military may conduct any commercial activity with Anthropic,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. He described the company’s actions as “a master class in arrogance and betrayal” and a “textbook case of how not to do business with the United States Government or the Pentagon.”
The dispute drew political reactions. United States House Democrat Hakeem Jeffries praised Anthropic’s refusal to comply, calling it a stand against “this shocking invasion of privacy scheme.” He added, “Mass surveillance of American citizens is unacceptable.”
Technology industry professionals also weighed in. Employees from leading artificial intelligence firms, including Google DeepMind and OpenAI, signed an open letter titled “We Will Not Be Divided.” The letter urged companies to resist pressure to allow AI models to be used for domestic surveillance or autonomous lethal operations without human oversight.
OpenAI Chief Executive Officer Sam Altman reportedly told employees he was negotiating with the Pentagon to establish clear safeguards similar to those advocated by Anthropic. He wrote in an internal memo, “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.”
The conflict highlights the growing international concern over ethical and security issues surrounding artificial intelligence deployment. Okay News reports that the outcome of the confrontation may shape not only U.S. policy but also how governments globally regulate AI use in military and surveillance applications, balancing national security priorities with civil liberties and democratic safeguards.