Pentagon May Sever Ties with Anthropic Over AI Usage Dispute

The Pentagon is reportedly contemplating a break-up with AI startup Anthropic following a contentious dispute over the military’s usage of the company’s Claude AI model. This information comes in the wake of reports from Axios that tensions escalated after Claude was deployed during a classified operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January 2026.

Insider sources reveal that the U.S. military deployed Claude through Anthropic’s collaboration with Palantir Technologies during the active Maduro raid. This operation resulted in numerous casualties. A high-ranking administration official informed Axios that the Pentagon is advocating for “all lawful purposes” usage rights without any limitations. In contrast, Anthropic is adamant about maintaining restrictions around mass surveillance of Americans and fully autonomous weaponry.

“Any company that would jeopardize the operational success of our warfighters in the field is one we need to reevaluate our partnership with going forward,” the official stated.

Anthropic had previously signed a contract worth up to $200 million with the Pentagon last summer. Claude was the inaugural AI model integrated into the military’s classified networks. The company denies discussing specific operations with the Department of War and continues to affirm its commitment to national security while upholding safety standards.

Source: https://www.axios.com/2026/02/15/claude-pentagon-anthropic-contract-maduro