Pentagon official Emil Michael said on Thursday that Anthropic is still considered a "supply chain risk." Michael posted on X: “Anthropic is still a designated Supply Chain Risk at @DeptofWar and for the Defense Industrial Base. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
His statement came one day after Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick told Axios reporter Mike Allen on the sidelines of the G20 Innovation Summit: “We trust Anthropic.” Lutnick added, “They've done what we asked. They're back on the right side. So the answer is: Yes,” when asked whether he trusts Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei.
Why this matters
The contrast between the two statements illustrates that the Trump administration is not united in its approach to one of the world’s leading AI labs. Over recent months there have been prolonged disputes about how the military may use Anthropic’s models, and officials remain split over the risks and terms of engagement.
Internal dynamics and legal developments
Reports indicate that personality differences under Dario Amodei’s leadership previously exacerbated tensions between the administration and Anthropic. In response, the company has been elevating co‑founder Tom Brown’s role in dealings with the White House.
Separately, a federal judge in August struck down the Pentagon’s blacklisting of Anthropic as a supply‑chain risk. However, Anthropic continues to contest a different Pentagon designation brought under another statute; that challenge is currently pending in the D.C. Circuit.
Bottom line
Anthropic is not entirely out of the woods with the Trump administration. While the Commerce Department has signaled renewed trust, the Department of Defense maintains a supply‑chain risk designation and a separate legal proceeding in the D.C. Circuit remains unresolved. At the same time, Tom Brown’s increased prominence may reflect the company’s effort to stabilize relations with government stakeholders.
