U.S. Senator Ted Cruz has questioned the decision of the Department of Defense (DoD), now Department of War (DoW), to bar federal agencies from using the artificial intelligence (AI) technology developed by the private company Anthropic. On Mar. 10, Cruz stated that he had not seen a clear justification for the restriction.
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Following the DoW’s restriction on Anthropic’s technology, Cruz highlighted the potential benefits of Claude AI for government agencies, noting its ability to assist with data analysis and decision-making. He suggested that any security concerns could be addressed through careful safeguards rather than a blanket restriction, ensuring the technology remains available for federal operations.
Cruz called Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s reasoning for labeling Anthropic a supply chain risk “reasonable on the face of it.” He acknowledged the military’s interest in ensuring private companies do not shape defense policy. Further, he added that he does not yet have enough information to support restricting all federal agencies from using the technology.
Cruz’s comments follow actions by Anthropic’s CEO, Dario Amodei, who asked the Pentagon to pledge that Claude would not be used for fully autonomous lethal weapons or mass domestic surveillance of Americans. The company later sued the administration in federal court, calling the Pentagon’s designation “unlawful” and claiming it harms Anthropic’s reputation.
Congress Seeks Clarity on Anthropic Ban
Republican Sen. Mike Rounds (S.D.) requested a briefing from the Pentagon on the ongoing dispute with Anthropic, seeking more insight into the rationale for the restriction. The briefing could shed light on why the company was labeled a national-security supply-chain risk and how federal agencies will handle AI tools like Claude in the coming months.
Hegseth has said the Pentagon will phase out Anthropic’s technology over the next six months, giving agencies a timeline to transition away from the company’s tools. Rounds’ briefing request reflects congressional interest in the Pentagon’s designation and the future use of Anthropic’s AI tools.
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