Microsoft, Google, Amazon say Anthropic Claude remains available to non-defense customers

Enterprises and startups that use Anthropic Claude through Microsoft and Google products need not fear that the model will be ripped from their reach, Microsoft and Google confirmed to TechCrunch. AWS customers and partners can also reportedly continue to use Claude for their non-defense associated workloads.

Microsoft was the first big tech company to offer assurance that Anthropic’s models will remain available to its customers even though the Trump administration’s Department of War — formally known as the Department of Defense — has escalated its feud with Anthropic.

The Defense Department officially designated the American AI startup as a supply-chain risk on Thursday after the AI company refused to give it unrestricted access to its tech for applications the company said its AI could not safely support, such as mass surveillance and fully autonomous weapons.

The supply-chain risk designation is typically reserved for foreign adversaries. For Anthropic, the designation means that the Pentagon won’t be able to use the company’s products once it transitions Claude off its systems. It also requires any company or agency that works with the Pentagon to certify that they don’t use Anthropic’s models, either. Anthropic has vowed to fight the designation in court.

Microsoft sells an array of products, from Office to its cloud, to many federal agencies, including the Defense Department. A Microsoft spokesperson said that the company will continue making Anthropic’s models available within its own products and to Microsoft customers.

“Our lawyers have studied the designation and have concluded that Anthropic products, including Claude, can remain available to our customers — other than the Department of War — through platforms such as M365, GitHub, and Microsoft’s AI Foundry, and that we can continue to work with Anthropic on non-defense related projects,” the spokesperson said in an email. CNBC first reported on the comment.

Google, which sells cloud computing, AI, and productivity tools federal agencies, has also confirmed that it will continue to make Claude available to its customers.

Disrupt 2026: The tech ecosystem, all in one room

Save up to $300 or 30% to TechCrunch Founder Summit

“We understand that the Determination does not preclude us from working with Anthropic on non-defense related projects, and their products remain available through our platforms, like Google Cloud,” a Google spokesperson said.

CNBC also reported that AWS customers and partners can keep using Claude for their non-defense workloads.

This echoes what Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said in his statement vowing to fight the designation.

“With respect to our customers, it plainly applies only to the use of Claude by customers as a direct part of contracts with the Department of War, not all use of Claude by customers who have such contracts,” Amodei said, adding, “Even for Department of War contractors, the supply chain risk designation doesn’t (and can’t) limit uses of Claude or business relationships with Anthropic if those are unrelated to their specific Department of War contracts.”

In the meantime, Claude’s consumer growth surge has continued after Anthropic refused to give in to the department’s demands.

Rebecca Bellan is a senior reporter at TechCrunch where she covers the business, policy, and emerging trends shaping artificial intelligence. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, Bloomberg, The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, and other publications.

You can contact or verify outreach from Rebecca by emailing rebecca.bellan@techcrunch.com or via encrypted message at rebeccabellan.491 on Signal.

Actively scaling? Fundraising? Planning your next launch? TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 delivers tactical playbooks and direct access to 1,000+ founders and investors who are building, backing, and closing. Register by March 13 to save up to $300.

Cluely CEO Roy Lee admits to publicly lying about revenue numbers last year Julie Bort

Cluely CEO Roy Lee admits to publicly lying about revenue numbers last year

Cluely CEO Roy Lee admits to publicly lying about revenue numbers last year

Jensen Huang says Nvidia is pulling back from OpenAI and Anthropic, but his explanation raises more questions than it answers Connie Loizos

Jensen Huang says Nvidia is pulling back from OpenAI and Anthropic, but his explanation raises more questions than it answers

Jensen Huang says Nvidia is pulling back from OpenAI and Anthropic, but his explanation raises more questions than it answers

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei calls OpenAI’s messaging around military deal ‘straight up lies,’ report says Amanda Silberling

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei calls OpenAI’s messaging around military deal ‘straight up lies,’ report says

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei calls OpenAI’s messaging around military deal ‘straight up lies,’ report says

ChatGPT uninstalls surged by 295% after DoD deal Sarah Perez

ChatGPT uninstalls surged by 295% after DoD deal

ChatGPT uninstalls surged by 295% after DoD deal

MyFitnessPal has acquired Cal AI, the viral calorie app built by teens Julie Bort

MyFitnessPal has acquired Cal AI, the viral calorie app built by teens

MyFitnessPal has acquired Cal AI, the viral calorie app built by teens

Anthropic’s Claude reports widespread outage Ram Iyer

Anthropic’s Claude reports widespread outage

Anthropic’s Claude reports widespread outage

The trap Anthropic built for itself Connie Loizos