Anthropic Sues DoD Over ‘Supply-Chain Risk’ Label

Anthropic, the San Francisco–based AI firm behind Claude, filed two lawsuits against the Department of Defense after the Pentagon designated the company as a supply chain risk for national security. The lawsuits allege the designation is unlawful and infringes on First Amendment rights, arguing the government is punishing Anthropic for its safety-focused stance and for not complying with certain ideological demands. The move marks a rare use of a blacklist tool against a private company.

Anthropic has been working with the DoD, with Claude used in various DoD operations over the past year. The company says it remains committed to national security applications but opposes any attempt to compel business partners to sever ties or to force the company to modify its safety practices as a condition for government access. The lawsuits contend that punishing a firm for its speech is unconstitutional and harmful to research and innovation.

The DoD formally issued the supply chain risk designation last Thursday, making Anthropic the first American company to be targeted by this tool. The legal filings were submitted in federal courts in California and Washington, D.C., highlighting a broader clash over how to regulate AI used in defense. Anthropic argues that the government’s action punishes protected speech and punishes the company for choosing safeguards over government demands.

Analysts say the case could set a broader precedent on government power to blacklist suppliers and to shape the business terms under which tech firms collaborate with the military. As AI policies evolve, the dispute underscores tensions between national security interests and the rights of companies to pursue research and safety standards of their own choosing.

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