Watchdog Group Files Brief Slamming Federal Actions Against Anthropic

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Kara Zupkus (224) 456-0257

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Yesterday, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance Foundation (TPAF) filed an amicus brief at the United States District Court for the Northern District of California urging the Court to grant Anthropic’s motion for summary judgment in the case Anthropic PBC v. United States Department of War. Anthropic first filed suit after the U.S. Department of War and Secretary of War Peter Hegseth designated Anthropic as a “supply chain risk,” kicking off a government-wide boycott against the company. In March, the Court granted Anthropic a preliminary injunction against the government, holding that the company is likely to succeed on the merits of its legal claims. Following the granting of this preliminary injunction, Anthropic’s motion for summary judgment is the next step to secure a victory against the government and safeguard its constitutional rights. TPAF’s brief was prepared and filed with the assistance of law firm Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.

Ross Marchand, attorney and Executive Director of TPAF, called on the Court to grant summary judgment:

“The federal government’s decision to weaponize a ‘supply chain risk’ designation against Anthropic is a clear abuse of power that flagrantly violates the Constitution. This sweeping government-wide blacklist is not a matter of national security; it is a textbook case of unlawful viewpoint discrimination. The First Amendment strictly prohibits the administration from blacklisting companies simply because it dislikes their public policy positions.

“Furthermore, executive officials completely ignored the clear boundaries of federal procurement law. These statutory risk designations were enacted by Congress to defend against genuine foreign threats—such as espionage or cyber warfare—not to be wielded as a political weapon against domestic enterprises. By warping this legal language beyond recognition, the administration is bypassing Congress, rewriting the law, and setting a dangerous precedent that threatens everyone’s rights.

“TPAF calls on the Court to grant summary judgment and end this travesty. Arbitrary blacklists undermine the rule of law, destroy trust in federal procurement, and stifle critical technological innovation. This overreach must stop.”

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The Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to educating the public through the research, analysis, and dissemination of information on the government’s impact on the economy.