Judge: Trump Admin Lacks Evidence for Anthropic 'Supply Chain Risk' Label

A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration has not provided sufficient evidence to justify labeling AI company Anthropic a supply chain risk, which would ban federal use of its technology. The dispute stems from stalled contract negotiations with the Department of Defense (DoD), where Anthropic refused to allow its AI for mass surveillance, lethal targeting, or firing decisions, citing safety concerns. The Pentagon argued that a private company cannot dictate military use and promised lawful application. The government also cited Anthropic's public criticism of the DoD as justification for the ban—a logic Judge Rita Lin called 'really troubling,' warning it could set a precedent for retaliating against contractors who disagree with the administration. The DoD further claimed Anthropic could disable or alter AI models during warfare, but Lin found no evidence of such a 'kill switch.' The hearing is part of one of two lawsuits Anthropic filed in March; the other is in Washington. Lin temporarily blocked the ban in March and is now considering a permanent injunction.