AISN #69: Department of War, Anthropic, and National Security

<p> Also, Anthropic Removes a Core Safety Commitment.</p> <p> Welcome to the AI Safety Newsletter by the Center for AI Safety. We discuss developments in AI and AI safety. No technical background required.</p><p> In this edition, we discuss the conflicts between Anthropic and the Department of War and Anthropic's recent removal of a core safety commitment.</p><p> Listen to the AI Safety Newsletter for free on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.</p><p> We’re Hiring. We’re hiring an editor! Help us surface the most compelling stories in AI safety and shape how the world understands this fast-moving field.</p><p> Other opportunities at CAIS include: Head of Public Engagement, Program Manager, Operations Associate, and other roles. If you’re interested in working on reducing AI risk alongside a talented, mission-driven team, consider applying!</p><p><strong> Pentagon Declares Anthropic a Supply Chain Risk to National Security</strong></p>Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei (left) and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (right)<p> Thursday, March 5th, the US Department of War (DoW) announced that Anthropic is designated a “supply chain risk,” meaning that Anthropic products cannot be used by the DoW or in any defense contracts. This comes after several weeks of tensions between the two organizations over whether Anthropic models would be used for [...]</p> <p>---</p><p><strong>Outline:</strong></p><p>(00:59) Pentagon Declares Anthropic a Supply Chain Risk to National Security</p><p>(05:51) Anthropic Drops Core Safety Commitment</p><p>(07:22) Opportunity for Experienced Researchers: AI and Society Fellowship</p><p>(07:58) In Other News</p><p>(08:02) Government</p><p>(09:07) Industry</p><p>(10:17) Civil Society</p> <p>---</p> <p><b>First published:</b><br/> March 13th, 2026 </p> <p><b>Source:</b><br/> <a href="https://newsletter.safe.ai/p/ai-safety-newsletter-69-department?utm_source=TYPE_III_AUDIO&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=Source+URL+in+episode+description&utm_campaign=ai_narration" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://newsletter.safe.ai/p/ai-safety-newsletter-69-department</a> </p> <p>---</p> <p>Want more? Check out our <a href="https://newsletter.mlsafety.org/?utm_source=TYPE_III_AUDIO&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=Episode+description+footer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">ML Safety Newsletter</a> for technical safety research.</p> <p>Narrated by <a href="https://type3.audio/?utm_source=TYPE_III_AUDIO&utm_medium=Podcast&utm_content=Narrated+by+TYPE+III+AUDIO&utm_term=center_for_ai_safety&utm_campaign=ai_narration" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TYPE III AUDIO</a>.</p> <p>---</p><div style="max-width: 100%";><p><strong>Images from the article:</strong></p><a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qfsg!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F78482108-1781-4c17-b6a0-413c12b9c95a_860x484.png" target="_blank"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!qfsg!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F78482108-1781-4c17-b6a0-413c12b9c95a_860x484.png" alt="Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei (left) and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (right)" style="max-width: 100%;" /></a><hr style="margin-top: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;" /><a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aYDX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9696604e-a472-4452-8454-93876fbe85ca_657x549.png" target="_blank"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!aYDX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9696604e-a472-4452-8454-93876fbe85ca_657x549.png" alt="Donald J. Trump tweets: "THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL NEVER ALLOW A RADICAL LEFT, WOKE COMPANY TO DICTATE HOW OUR GREAT MILITARY FIGHTS AND WINS WARS! That decision belongs to YOUR COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, and the tremendous leaders I appoint to run our Military. The Leftwing nut jobs at Anthropic have made a DISASTROUS MISTAKE trying to STRONG-ARM the Department of War, and force them to obey their Terms of Service instead of our Constitution. Their selfishness is putting AMERICAN LIVES at risk, our Troops in danger, and our National Security in JEOPARDY. Therefore, I am directing EVERY Federal Agency in the United States Government to IMMEDIATELY CEASE all use of Anthropic's technology. We don't need it, we don't want it, and will not do business with them again! There will be a Six Month phase out period for Agencies like the Department of War who are using Anthropic's products, at various levels. Anthropic better get their act together, and be helpful during this phase out period, or I will use the Full Power of the Presidency to make them comply, with major civil and criminal consequences to follow. WE will decide the fate of our Country — NOT some out-of-control, Radical Left AI company run by people who have no idea what the real World is all about. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP"." style="max-width: 100%;" /></a><hr style="margin-top: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;" /><a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1DO9!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F557ee0c3-b1f1-4587-a36f-e9e195474105_577x483.png" target="_blank"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!1DO9!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F557ee0c3-b1f1-4587-a36f-e9e195474105_577x483.png" alt="Secretary of War Pete Hegseth tweets: "This week, Anthropic delivered a master class in arrogance and betrayal as well as a textbook case of how not to do business with the United States Government or the Pentagon. Our position has never wavered and will never waver: the Department of War must have full, unrestricted access to Anthropic's models for every LAWFUL purpose in defense of the Republic. Instead, Anthropic and its CEO Dario Amodei, have chosen duplicity. Cloaked in the sanctimonious rhetoric of "effective altruism," they have attempted to strong-arm the United States military into submission - a cowardly act of corporate virtue-signaling that places Silicon Valley ideology above American lives. The Terms of Service of Anthropic's defective altruism will never outweigh the safety, the readiness, or the lives of American troops on the battlefield."" style="max-width: 100%;" /></a><hr style="margin-top: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;" /><a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A-e7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b631b37-bfed-41b5-a244-50303a003547_577x531.png" target="_blank"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!A-e7!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F9b631b37-bfed-41b5-a244-50303a003547_577x531.png" alt="Government statement announcing Anthropic designated as supply-chain risk, banning military contractor use." style="max-width: 100%;" /></a><hr style="margin-top: 24px; margin-bottom: 24px;" /><a href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!17mk!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F56bef897-8f53-4a9e-b701-a0bac0907a32_953x561.png" target="_blank"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!17mk!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F56bef897-8f53-4a9e-b701-a0bac0907a32_953x561.png" alt="Version 3.0 of Anthropic’s Responsible Scaling Policy took effect in late February, overturning commitments in previous versions. Source __T3A_LINK_IN_POST__." style="max-width: 100%;" /></a><p><em>Apple Podcasts and Spotify do not show images in the episode description. Try <a href="https://pocketcasts.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Pocket Casts</a>, or another podcast app.</em></p></div>