Timeline: Anthropic, OpenAI, and U.S. Government
Source: Hacker News
OpenAI agrees with Dept. of War to deploy models in classified network
Feb 28 2026, 02:56 AM
OpenAI struck a deal with the Pentagon to supply AI to classified military networks. Sam Altman said the same red lines at the heart of Anthropic’s dispute are enshrined in OpenAI’s new partnership: “Two of our most important safety principles are prohibitions on domestic mass surveillance and human responsibility for the use of force, including for autonomous weapon systems.”
Anthropic: Statement on the comments from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth
Feb 28 2026, 01:24 AM
Anthropic summarized that after months of negotiations with the Department of War, talks broke down over two issues: their refusal to allow mass domestic surveillance or the use of their AI in fully autonomous weapons. They stressed that these exceptions haven’t impacted any government mission, argued that current AI isn’t reliable enough for weapons use, and said domestic surveillance threatens fundamental rights. Anthropic called the supply‑chain‑risk designation unprecedented for an American company, insisted it would not alter its stance, and intends to challenge it in court. The company assured customers that individual and commercial access would not be affected and that the new restrictions would apply only to Department of War contracts.
Dept. of War: Anthropic is a supply chain risk
Feb 27 2026, 10:14 PM
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth denounced Anthropic for limiting military access to its models, calling the stance a betrayal and incompatible with American principles. He announced that Anthropic would be barred from defense contracts, labeling the company a national‑security risk. Contractors were given six months to transition away.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on X
U.S. government blacklists Anthropic
Feb 27 2026, 02:12 PM
Former President Trump directed all federal agencies to immediately cease use of Anthropic technology. Defense Secretary Hegseth designated Anthropic a supply‑chain risk to national security—an action historically reserved for U.S. adversaries and never before applied to an American company.
OpenAI raises $110 B on $730 B pre‑money valuation
Feb 26 2026, 10:36 PM
OpenAI raised $110 billion in funding from Amazon, NVIDIA, and SoftBank. The company expressed gratitude for partner support and emphasized ongoing work to provide valuable tools.
Statement from Dario Amodei on our discussions with the Department of War
Feb 27 2026 (date inferred from post)
Dario Amodei, Anthropic CEO, reiterated the company’s commitment to supporting U.S. national security while highlighting its proactive deployment of AI models for military and intelligence use. Amodei explained that Anthropic refuses to support two specific use cases—mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons—on democratic and safety grounds. He detailed pressure and threats from the Department of War to remove these safeguards, including blacklisting and “supply chain risk” labeling, but affirmed Anthropic will not compromise. The company expressed willingness to cooperate with a smooth transition if off‑boarded, while hoping to continue supporting U.S. defense with responsible safeguards in place.
Anthropic on X — created by Vlad Sazonau 2026