Anthropic and the Pentagon resume talks over Claude access, FT reports

The Financial Times reports Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei is negotiating with the Department of Defense over terms for Pentagon access to Anthropic's Claude models after talks broke down.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has resumed talks with the U.S. Department of Defense over the Pentagon's access to the company's Claude models, The Financial Times reports. Negotiations had broken down after President Donald Trump directed federal agencies to stop using Anthropic's tools and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he would designate the company a supply‑chain risk. Amodei is reported to be in discussions with Emil Michael, the under‑secretary of defense for research and engineering, in a last‑ditch effort to reach agreement on terms. The earlier $200 million contract placed Claude on classified Pentagon networks, and Anthropic sought limits on uses such as domestic surveillance and autonomous weapons. Key details: - The Financial Times reports Amodei and Emil Michael are negotiating after talks collapsed last Friday. - President Trump directed federal agencies to stop using Anthropic tools and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he would label the company a supply‑chain risk. - Anthropic previously received a $200 million contract to deploy Claude in classified Defense Department networks. - Anthropic sought guarantees against use for domestic surveillance or autonomous weapons; the Pentagon had sought authority to use the technology for any lawful purpose. - Amodei told staff the company had proposed deleting a phrase about "analysis of bulk acquired data" near the end of talks, according to a memo seen by the FT. - OpenAI reached a separate deal with the Defense Department; its CEO Sam Altman later said the company "shouldn't have rushed" that deal and advocated that Anthropic not be designated a supply‑chain risk. Summary: A new agreement would allow the military to continue using Anthropic's tools, while failure to reach terms could end that access. Negotiations are ongoing and the outcome is undetermined at this time.