A federal judge in California has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from designating artificial intelligence company Anthropic as a "supply chain risk" to national security, granting the company an early legal victory in its dispute with the Department of Defense.

U.S. District Judge Rita Lin issued a temporary injunction on Thursday, pausing the government's punitive measures against Anthropic while the Northern District Court of California hears the company's case. The judge also blocked President Trump's order requiring government agencies to cease using Anthropic's technology and cut all contracts with the company.

Anthropic filed the lawsuit arguing that the Department of Defense and the Trump administration violated its First Amendment rights by designating it as a supply chain risk. The company contended that this designation was made in retaliation for its refusal to allow the defense department to use its Claude AI model in autonomous weapons systems.

Judge Lin characterized the government's actions as "classic First Amendment retaliation" in her ruling. The temporary injunction allows Anthropic to continue operating without the supply chain risk label while the legal proceedings continue.

The dispute represents a significant clash between the AI industry and government over the use of artificial intelligence technology for military applications. Anthropic's stance against allowing its AI systems to be used in autonomous weapons has put it at odds with Pentagon objectives.

The temporary injunction provides Anthropic with immediate relief from the designation, clearing the way for the company to maintain its federal business relationships while the broader legal battle plays out in court.