Tech Workers Fight Anthropic 'Risk' Label
A coalition of tech workers is urging the Pentagon and Congress to remove AI firm Anthropic's designation as a "supply-chain risk." The group argues the label stifles innovation and competition, highlighting a growing tension between national security policy and the tech workforce.
The dispute escalated over Anthropic's refusal to remove two key safeguards from its AI models, including its primary model, Claude. The company has firm policies against its technology being used for mass domestic surveillance of American citizens or to power fully autonomous weapons that can make life-or-death decisions without a human in the loop. The Pentagon, however, insisted on the ability to use the AI for "any lawful purpose." On February 27, 2026, after negotiations broke down, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the "supply-chain risk" designation. This was followed by a directive from President Donald Trump for all federal agencies to cease using Anthropic's technology, allowing for a six-month transition period. This action is unprecedented, as such a designation has historically been reserved for foreign adversaries. In response to the government's move, a coalition of tech workers from companies including Google and OpenAI published an open letter titled "We Will Not Be Divided." The letter, signed by over 700 employees, expressed solidarity with Anthropic and urged their own employers to resist similar demands from the Pentagon. Anthropic's CEO, Dario Amodei, has called the designation "legally unsound" and "retaliatory and punitive," vowing to challenge the decision in court. The company stated that "no amount of intimidation or punishment" would alter its position on the two ethical red lines. The designation could force defense contractors and other companies doing business with the military, such as cloud providers Amazon and Google, to sever ties with Anthropic. The General Services Administration has already taken steps to remove Anthropic's services from its federal acquisition platform and the USAi program. Several executive departments, including Treasury, State, and Health and Human Services, also confirmed they would comply with the directive to phase out Anthropic's technology. The controversy has drawn criticism from some members of Congress. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the Pentagon's actions a "gift to our adversaries and a strike against American innovation." Shortly after the fallout with Anthropic, rival AI company OpenAI announced it had reached a deal with the Department of Defense. OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, stated their agreement includes the same ethical red lines that were at the center of the dispute with Anthropic.
