Judge Blocks Pentagon from Blacklisting Anthropic

A federal judge has ruled that the Department of Defense’s (DoD) classification of artificial‑intelligence firm Anthropic as a national‑security supply‑chain risk is “illegal and baseless.” The decision was issued by U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in the District of Columbia, who granted a preliminary injunction that blocks the DoD from enforcing the designation while the case proceeds.

The DoD had placed Anthropic on a list of entities deemed to pose a threat to the nation’s defense‑related supply chain, citing concerns over the company’s technology and potential foreign influence. In his ruling, Judge Boasberg found that the department exceeded its statutory authority, noting that the agency failed to demonstrate a clear legal basis for the restriction and that the evidence presented did not substantiate the alleged security risk. Anthropic, which develops large‑language models, had challenged the designation, arguing that it interfered with lawful business operations and procurement processes.

The injunction preserves Anthropic’s ability to engage in contracts with the DoD and other federal agencies pending a full hearing. The DoD may appeal the decision, and the case is expected to shape how government agencies assess and act on perceived security risks associated with emerging AI technologies.