DOJ Defends Anthropic Blacklist Over “Warfighting Risk” in Court Filing

The U.S. government is now formally defending its decision to block Anthropic from military work, escalating a legal fight that could reshape how AI is used in warfare.

At the center is a Justice Department filing backing the Pentagon’s move to label the company a “supply-chain risk,” a designation that effectively bars it from defense contracts and high-level national security systems.

The conflict began after Anthropic refused to allow its Claude AI to be used for autonomous weapons or large-scale surveillance, triggering a breakdown in negotiations with the Defense Department.

In court filings, the government argued the restriction creates unacceptable risk, saying companies controlling AI behavior during wartime could disrupt operations or limit military decisions.

That position is now being challenged directly in federal court, where Anthropic claims the designation is unlawful retaliation that violates its constitutional rights and threatens billions in revenue.

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“The dispute is about commercial decisions, not free speech,” government lawyers argued in filings defending the move.

The case is drawing unusual attention across the tech industry, with companies like Microsoft and groups of AI researchers backing Anthropic and warning the decision could set a precedent for government control over private AI systems.

At the same time, the Pentagon is already moving to replace Anthropic’s technology with alternatives from rival firms, signaling the split may become permanent regardless of the legal outcome.

A federal hearing expected in the coming days will determine whether Anthropic can temporarily reverse the ban while the broader case plays out.

For now, the dispute is becoming a defining test of who controls AI in national security.

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