Last updated at 7:37 AM PDT, March 11, 2026
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Microsoft is coming out in support of Anthropic as it seeks to challenge the Trump administration’s classification of the artificial intelligence company as a supply chain risk in federal court.
In a legal document, Microsoft is contesting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s recent actions that barred Anthropic from military contracts, citing concerns that its AI products pose a national security threat.
The Pentagon’s decision followed a public disagreement concerning Anthropic’s stance against allowing unrestricted military application of its AI model, Claude. President Donald Trump also instructed federal agencies to cease using Claude.
Microsoft stated in its filing, “Using a supply chain risk designation to resolve a contract dispute could lead to significant economic repercussions that aren’t beneficial to the public.” The company is a significant contractor for the government and made the filing in the San Francisco federal court where Anthropic recently filed its lawsuit against the Trump administration.
According to Microsoft’s legal brief, the Pentagon’s move imposes vague and poorly defined requirements on government contractors, a method never before used against a U.S. company.
The company is requesting a judge to temporarily lift this designation to facilitate more thoughtful discussions.
The Pentagon has chosen not to comment on the issue, citing ongoing litigation.
In its support for Anthropic, Microsoft also aligned with two ethical principles that became contentious during contract discussions.
“We believe American AI should not be leveraged for domestic mass surveillance or for initiating war without human oversight,” Microsoft remarked. “This perspective is consistent with the law and widely endorsed by American society, as recognized by the government.”
Microsoft’s court motion follows endorsements for Anthropic from other parties, including AI developers at Google and OpenAI, along with organizations such as the Cato Institute and the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
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