Technology, National Security Leaders Say Anthropic and Trump’s ‘Messy Public Breakup’ Will Harm Both

WASHINGTON, March 12, 2026 – Technology and national security leaders said the “messy public breakup” between Anthropic and the Department of Defense will ultimately harm both entities.

Paul Scharre , the executive vice president of the Center for New American Security (CNAS),**** said the federal government’s response to Anthropic’s refusal to let the Pentagon use its artificial intelligence is “totally inappropriate” and an act of “retribution.”

As a part of internal U.S. military operations, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he wanted to use AI company Anthropic’s chatbot. The company’s CEO Dario Amodei expressed ethical concerns about unchecked AI use within the government, including fully autonomous armed drones and mass surveillance. In late February, Hegseth issued a deadline for unrestricted military use to Anthropic, which the company denied.

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