Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei Says Pentagon Threats Won’t Shift Company’s AI Stance

Anthropic’s Claude is already embedded in classified DoD networks, the company said in a statement released Feb. 26, 2026. The firm claims it was the first frontier‑AI startup to place models on U.S. government classified systems and at national laboratories, and it now powers “mission‑critical” tasks such as intelligence analysis, modeling and simulation, operational planning and cyber operations for the Department of War, according to the company’s own policy brief.

The CEO reiterated that Anthropic has voluntarily foregone “several hundred million dollars in revenue” to block Claude’s use by firms tied to the Chinese Communist Party, including entities the Pentagon has labeled Chinese Military Companies. He added that Anthropic shut down CCP‑sponsored cyber‑attacks targeting Claude and has lobbied for stricter export controls on AI chips, actions he framed as defending America’s democratic AI lead even when they hurt short‑term profit, per the Feb. 26 statement.

Despite the Pentagon’s recent pressure, Amodei told CNBC the threats “do not change our position” on AI. Reuters reported that the company is “digging in its heels” and has not raised objections to specific military operations, noting that Anthropic believes only a narrow set of uses could undermine democratic values or exceed the technology’s safe limits. The Verge’s coverage echoes this, describing the talks as “existential negotiations” but confirming Anthropic’s refusal to curtail Claude’s deployment for national‑security customers.

TechCrunch noted that the dispute has escalated, yet Anthropic remains unmoved. The firm maintains that the Department of War, not private firms, decides military policy, and it will continue to supply Claude for approved defense applications while monitoring for misuse. Amodei’s stance signals that Anthropic will prioritize its strategic partnership with U.S. defense agencies over external political pressure, a position that could shape the next phase of AI integration in national security.