The D.C. Circuit rules 2-1 that the Pentagon may label Anthropic a supply-chain risk and keep Claude out of Defense Department work

On 25 September the federal appeals court in Washington turned down Anthropic's challenge to the Pentagon's ruling that the company is a supply-chain risk. The decision is listed on the case-law site Leagle as Anthropic PBC v. United States Department of War, Nos. 26-1049 and 26-1162, argued on 19 May and decided on 25 September, with Judge Katsas writing and Judge Henderson dissenting, and it cites the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act of 2018. The court's own opinion was not visible from here.

The panel split 2-1, the Associated Press and The Next Web reported, with Judges Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao in the majority. The AP reported that the majority found the Pentagon had “ample support” for its decision. The Next Web reported that the label bars the military and its contractors from using Claude; the AP said it does not stop other federal agencies from using Anthropic's products. Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson dissented.

A federal judge in San Francisco had struck down a separate Pentagon designation against Anthropic, in August according to The Next Web; the AP says earlier this summer. Anthropic said it “respectfully disagrees”, the AP reported, and is “considering all options, including further review.”

• Confirmed Leagle lists the decision in Nos. 26-1049 and 26-1162 as decided on 25 September 2026, Katsas writing and Henderson dissenting. Leagle
• Reported The panel split 2-1, with Judges Katsas and Rao in the majority, the Associated Press reported. Associated Press via ClickOrlando
• Reported The label bars the military and its contractors from using Claude, The Next Web reported. The Next Web
• Claimed Anthropic says it is “considering all options, including further review.” Associated Press via ClickOrlando