Anthropic sues Pentagon over AI safety blacklisting, backed by Microsoft and 22 retired generals

Anthropic files suit in federal district court challenging the Pentagon's blacklisting as arbitrary and capricious under the Administrative Procedure Act. The company argues the DOD had no regulatory authority to bar it from defense contracts for maintaining safety guardrails, and that the blacklisting violated its due process rights. Microsoft files an amicus brief supporting Anthropic, as do 22 retired generals and admirals who argue that removing AI safety constraints from military systems creates more operational risk than it resolves. The case becomes a test of whether the government can compel AI companies to remove safety limits as a condition of federal contracting.