A federal judge blocked the Trump administration's attempt to restrict Anthropic's technology, ruling that the government's designation of the AI company as a supply-chain risk violated free-speech protections. Judge Rita F. Lin of the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction halting the administration's directive that federal agencies stop using Anthropic's models.

In her decision, Judge Lin found that the government's actions appeared designed to punish Anthropic for its stance on military AI applications. The administration had classified the company as a security threat, effectively barring federal agencies from using its technology. The judge ordered the Trump administration to immediately cease implementing this designation.

The ruling requires the government to file a compliance report by April 6, detailing how it has adhered to the court's decision. This legal victory represents a significant setback for the administration's efforts to control AI development and deployment, particularly regarding companies that maintain ethical boundaries around military applications.