US Threatens Anthropic with 'Supply-Chain Risk' Designation. OpenAI Signs New War Department Deal

Source: Slashdot

Background

On Friday, all U.S. federal agencies were ordered to immediately cease using Anthropic’s AI technology after contract negotiations stalled when Anthropic requested prohibitions against mass domestic surveillance and fully autonomous weapons.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth’s Statement

In a post to his 1.1 million followers on X, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth criticized Anthropic, calling the company’s stance “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.”

He stated that the Department of War must have full, unrestricted access to Anthropic’s models for every lawful purpose in defense of the Republic and announced the designation of Anthropic as a Supply‑Chain Risk to National Security. Effective immediately, no contractor, supplier, or partner that does business with the U.S. military may conduct any commercial activity with Anthropic.

Anthropic’s Response

Anthropic responded that “no amount of intimidation or punishment from the Department of War will change our position” and that it will challenge the supply‑chain risk designation in court.

Key points from Anthropic’s statement:

• Designating Anthropic as a supply‑chain risk would be unprecedented, historically reserved for U.S. adversaries.
• Anthropic has been the first frontier‑AI company to deploy models in the U.S. government’s classified networks, supporting warfighters since June 2024.
• The company believes the designation would be legally unsound and set a dangerous precedent for any American company negotiating with the government.
• Anthropic does not believe today’s frontier AI models are reliable enough for fully autonomous weapons, citing risks to warfighters and civilians.
• The company also opposes mass domestic surveillance of Americans, viewing it as a violation of fundamental rights.

OpenAI’s Deal with the Department of War

On the same day, OpenAI announced that it had reached an agreement with the Department of War to deploy its models in the Pentagon’s classified network.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasized that the agreement retains OpenAI’s prohibitions against using its products for domestic mass surveillance and requires “human responsibility” for the use of force, including autonomous weapon systems. He added that the Department of War agrees with these principles, reflects them in law and policy, and will implement technical safeguards to ensure model behavior aligns with the agreed standards.

Outlook

OpenAI is asking the Department of War to offer the same terms to all AI companies, advocating for de‑escalation and reasonable agreements. The company reaffirmed its commitment to serve humanity while acknowledging the complex and sometimes dangerous nature of the world.