Pentagon taps controversial DOGE employee to lead AI drive amid Anthropic fallout
Pentagon taps controversial DOGE employee to lead AI drive amid Anthropic fallout
Pentagon appoints Gavin Kliger to oversee AI projects as tensions with Anthropic and shifts toward OpenAI unfold.
The Pentagon has named Gavin Kliger as its new Chief Data Officer, placing a computer scientist with a controversial online footprint at the center of the Department’s ambitious artificial intelligence program. In his new role, Kliger will oversee the day-to-day alignment and execution of the department’s AI projects, working closely with America’s frontier AI labs to support the warfighter. The appointment comes at a moment of intense debate over how military AI should be developed, guarded, and deployed.
Kliger’s background is a focal point of scrutiny. Reports describe him as someone who has amplified white supremacist and misogynist content online in the past and who previously helped overhaul government operations for prominent tech figures. The move raises questions about how leadership choices intersect with broader questions of ethics, accountability, and risk management in AI-heavy defense projects.
The staffing decision arrives amid a phase of strategic tension over the Pentagon’s AI approach. After a heated dispute over guardrails for military AI tools, the administration shifted course by replacing Anthropic with OpenAI for certain capabilities. The department also issued a formal supply-chain risk designation against Anthropic, signaling a serious rift with a company once viewed as a leading partner for defense-related AI technologies. Anthropic has publicly resisted deploying its Claude AI for autonomous weapons or mass surveillance, while the Pentagon has argued it should be able to use advanced AI technology as needed, provided it complies with U.S. law and standards.
Officials did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Kliger’s appointment, and there is no official public explanation that resolves questions about the hiring’s alignment with ethical standards and transparency. The developments underscore how rapidly the landscape around military AI is shifting, with leadership choices, vendor relationships, and guardrail requirements all in flux. As the Pentagon presses ahead with its AI agenda, observers will be watching closely how governance, oversight, and practical safeguards evolve in this dynamic, high-stakes environment.
