A federal judge has issued a temporary injunction preventing the U.S. Department of Defense from designating artificial intelligence company Anthropic as a supply chain risk. The ruling, dated March 26, 2026, halts the Pentagon's action pending a full legal review of the case.
The injunction was granted by Judge Amit Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The legal challenge was filed by Anthropic, which argued the designation was unjustified and would cause irreparable harm to its business and reputation.
The Pentagon's proposed designation would have placed Anthropic on a list of companies considered potential risks to national security within the defense supply chain. Such a listing can severely restrict a firm's ability to contract with the U.S. government.
Judge Mehta's order states that Anthropic has shown a likelihood of success on the merits of its case and that the company would suffer significant, non-recoverable damages without court intervention. The Department of Defense is now barred from implementing the designation until the court reaches a final decision.
