Jeffries: Anthropic has courageously pushed back against Trump

Jeffries: Anthropic has courageously pushed back against Trump

Jeffries: Anthropic Has Pushed Back Against Trump Administration’s AI Surveillance Plans
February 27, 2026

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries has criticized the Trump administration for attempting to use artificial intelligence technology for mass surveillance of American citizens, calling out Anthropic—a leading AI firm—for resisting the effort. Jeffries stated that President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth are retaliating against Anthropic’s refusal to permit its AI tools to be used for surveillance or autonomous weapons systems.

The dispute escalated when Trump ordered federal agencies to cease using Anthropic’s products, and the Pentagon designated the company a "supply chain risk" to national security. This move effectively bars contractors working with the Department of Defense from engaging with Anthropic, potentially disrupting its commercial operations. Anthropic had previously agreed to collaborate with the Pentagon on classified projects but sought to limit its technology's use to non-surveillance and non-autonomous military applications.

Jeffries condemned the administration's actions as an "anti-free enterprise" effort to force corporate compliance with far-right policies, urging businesses to oppose what he described as an overreach of executive power. Meanwhile, experts like former Pentagon official Michael Horowitz noted the conflict could weaken U.S. defense capabilities by sidelining Anthropic's AI tools, which are already integrated into parts of the government. Horowitz added that the six-month timeline for resolving the dispute could create uncertainty for Anthropic and the Pentagon alike.

The standoff highlights broader tensions between AI developers and governments over technology governance. While Anthropic's stance has drawn praise for prioritizing civil liberties, the Trump administration's response underscores concerns about political interference in corporate decisions. With other AI firms like Elon Musk's xAI expressing willingness to work with the Pentagon, the financial and strategic implications of this conflict remain significant for both the tech sector and national security.

Jeffries Statement on Trump Administration Actions: Jeffries Statement on Trump Administration Actions
PBS Analysis of Anthropic-Pentagon Dispute: PBS Analysis of Anthropic-Pentagon Dispute