US President Donald Trump has directed federal agencies to halt the use of artificial intelligence tools developed by Anthropic, including its flagship model Claude, citing national security concerns.

According to reports by India TV and IANS, all departments have been asked to begin removing Anthropic technology from their systems immediately. Agencies have been given six months to complete the transition, particularly in areas linked to defence, intelligence and other sensitive government operations.

Officials said the directive applies to government networks where Anthropic’s systems are currently in use. Departments will now have to identify where the tools are integrated and shift to other technology providers within the specified timeframe.

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The move has placed Anthropic, one of the major AI companies in the United States, at the centre of a widening debate over the use of artificial intelligence in national security programmes.

Pentagon dispute over access to Claude

The decision comes after a disagreement between the Pentagon and Anthropic over how the company’s AI model could be used by defence agencies. Defence officials reportedly sought broader access to Claude for specialised operations. Anthropic maintained that it was willing to work with government agencies but would not allow its technology to be used for domestic surveillance or fully autonomous weapons without human oversight.

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Following the disagreement, defence authorities described Anthropic as a “supply chain risk to national security”, a label that can prevent companies from participating in government contracts.

Such a classification can also affect the willingness of other contractors to use a company’s technology in projects connected to federal agencies.

Six months to remove the technology

Under the order, federal agencies must remove Anthropic’s systems from classified networks, defence infrastructure and intelligence workflows within six months. Officials acknowledged that the transition could take time if the technology is deeply integrated into existing systems. Anthropic has indicated that it may challenge the decision legally. The company has said the order against a US-based AI firm is unusual and could have wider implications for how government agencies regulate technology providers.

While the federal government plans to discontinue the tools, Anthropic has said its consumer products and standard developer services will continue to operate.