×

Anthropic still flagged as risk to defense industrial base, US official says

By Thomson Reuters Sep 3, 2026 | 8:30 AM

By Mike Stone

WASHINGTON, Sept 3 (Reuters) – Anthropic is still considered a “Supply Chain ​Risk” by the U.S. ‌defense department and defense industry, the under secretary of defense for research and engineering ‌said, ​after suggestions ⁠of a thaw ⁠in relations between the AI company and the Trump administration.

Emil Michael posted the ​remarks on X a day after Commerce ⁠Secretary Howard Lutnick ⁠told Axios that ​Anthropic is “back on the right ​side,” adding, “we trust Anthropic” in ‌an interview.

A federal judge ruled in favor of Anthropic on Aug. 27, ⁠determining that the Pentagon illegally punished the AI company for criticizing ⁠the ‌government and that ⁠the Pentagon’s decision ​was “illegal ‌and baseless.”

The Defense Department ​did ⁠not respond to a request for comment.

(Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington; Editing by Mark Porter and ​Philippa Fletcher)