What happened
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declared Anthropic a 'Supply-Chain Risk to National Security' on February 27, 2026, via X. This designation follows Anthropic's refusal to grant the Department of War full, unrestricted access to its models for defence purposes. Hegseth directed the Federal Government to cease all use of Anthropic's technology and prohibited military contractors, suppliers, and partners from commercial activity with Anthropic. Anthropic will continue services for six months to facilitate transition, per the announcement.
Why it matters
This designation immediately alters procurement strategies for federal agencies and defence contractors. Procurement teams must now identify alternative AI model providers and initiate transition plans within six months, impacting existing contracts and future project timelines. Security architects must re-evaluate dependencies on Anthropic's models, ensuring compliance with the new prohibition. This action establishes a precedent for government intervention based on model access and control, affecting future vendor relationships in defence technology.
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