U.S. defense contractors, including Lockheed Martin, are expected to comply with a Pentagon order to remove Anthropic's AI tools from their supply chains. This move comes after President Trump announced a federal agency-wide ban on the company, with a six-month phase-out period. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth further stated that contractors doing business with the U.S. military must cease commercial activity with Anthropic, designating it a supply chain risk to national security.
While Anthropic plans to challenge the ban in court, citing shaky legal grounds, defense contractors are prioritizing adherence to the administration's directives. Attorneys noted that companies heavily reliant on Pentagon contracts would swiftly comply, as Lockheed Martin has pledged. The company stated it would follow the direction from the President and the Department of War, anticipating minimal impact as they do not rely on a single AI vendor.
Lawyers specializing in government contracts indicated that most companies doing significant business with the government are highly attuned to its preferences and are likely already taking steps to remove Anthropic from their supply chains. This rapid compliance reflects a pattern seen with previous Trump administration directives, such as the swift removal of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives from contracts.
Legal experts suggest the ban, if challenged, may be found to exceed the Defense Department's authority under the DOD Supply Chain Risk Authority, which permits barring contractors from using specific technologies for government work but not from their business entirely. Concerns have been raised about whether the administration has met the procedural requirements for such a ban, leading some to describe the action as a departure from the rule of law.