The AI company was labeled a "supply chain risk" after refusing to allow unrestricted military use of its technology. The judge said "empty invocation of national security is not a blank check" to punish critics.

The administration engaged in ‘unlawful retaliation in violation of the First Amendment,’ the ruling said.

The judge ruled that the Trump administration’s blacklisting of Anthropic stemmed from a “desire to make a public example out of Anthropic” for its criticism of the government.