A federal court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from labeling Anthropic as a supply chain risk and banning its products from federal use. The ruling came after Anthropic challenged the government's designation, which the company argued was retaliation for refusing to allow mass surveillance and autonomous weapons development using its technology.

Judge Rita F. Lin found that the government's actions appeared designed to punish Anthropic for criticizing its contracting position. The Defense Department had warned companies to sever ties with Anthropic and ordered federal agencies to stop using its services. Lin wrote that punishing the company for bringing public scrutiny to government contracting is "classic illegal First Amendment retaliation."

The court's decision represents a significant victory for Anthropic in its ongoing legal battle. While the preliminary injunction prevents immediate enforcement, the company's lawsuit continues. Anthropic told *The New York Times* it's focused on "working productively with the government" to ensure Americans benefit from safe AI.