Pete Hegseth tells Anthropic to fall in line with DoD desires, or else
Ars Technica
by
George Hammond and Steff Chávez, Financial Times
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has issued a stern warning to Anthropic, threatening to cut the AI company off from the Department of Defense (DoD) supply chain unless it agrees to allow its technology to be used in all lawful military applications by Friday. This move marks the latest escalation in a growing feud between the DoD and Anthropic, which began when the AI firm refused to grant unrestricted access to its models for classified military purposes, including domestic surveillance and autonomous missions without direct human control.
The tensions came to a head during a meeting in Washington where Hegseth summoned Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei. During the tense discussions, the defense secretary reportedly threatened to invoke the Defense Production Act—a Cold War-era tool that allows the president to take control of domestic industries for national security purposes—if Anthropic did not comply with the DoD’s demands. This threat underscores the potential consequences for the company if it continues to resist what the DoD deems as necessary access.
The situation highlights a broader debate over the role of AI in national security and military operations. While the DoD views Anthropic’s technology as critical to modernizing its capabilities, the company has expressed concerns about the ethical implications of enabling surveillance and autonomous systems without human oversight. Observers note that this clash could set a precedent for how government agencies interact with private AI companies moving forward.
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Originally published on Ars Technica on 2/25/2026