Pentagon official maintains anthropic's supply chain risk status amid administration tensions

Pentagon official Emil Michael confirmed on Thursday that Anthropic remains designated as a 'supply chain risk,' contradicting recent comments from Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Michael posted on X, stating that Anthropic is still considered a 'designated Supply Chain Risk' at the Department of War and for the Defense Industrial Base. Lutnick, however, told Axios' Mike Allen at the G20 Innovation Summit that the administration 'trusts Anthropic.' A federal judge in August overturned the Pentagon's blacklisting of Anthropic under one statute, but the company continues to challenge a separate designation under another law in the D.C. Circuit. The Trump administration remains divided on Anthropic's status, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin increasingly taking a central role in the debate. The situation highlights ongoing tensions within the administration over how the military can use AI models developed by leading companies. While Lutnick expressed confidence in Anthropic, Michael's reaffirmation of the supply chain risk designation underscores the administration's internal disagreements. Anthropic's legal battle continues as it seeks to resolve its status with the Pentagon, with the outcome remaining uncertain despite recent developments.