White House in Talks to Access Anthropic's Powerful AI Model Mythos

Despite ongoing Pentagon blacklist, civilian agencies seek to use Anthropic's advanced AI for cybersecurity and national security purposes.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 11:23pm

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A highly detailed, glowing 3D illustration of a complex cybersecurity infrastructure system, with neon cyan and magenta lights illuminating the various hardware components, conceptually representing the power and complexity of advanced AI-powered cybersecurity tools.As the White House negotiates access to Anthropic's advanced AI model Mythos, the glowing digital infrastructure represents the high-stakes battle over the future of national cybersecurity.Washington Today

The White House and Anthropic are in active discussions about deploying the AI firm's powerful new model, Mythos Preview, within the federal government despite ongoing efforts by the Pentagon to blacklist the company as a supply chain risk. While the Pentagon has declared Anthropic a 'supply chain risk' and barred the company from military contracts, civilian agencies like the Departments of Energy and Treasury are eager to access Mythos to help safeguard critical sectors like the electric grid and financial system against potential cyberattacks.

Why it matters

Anthropic's Mythos model is seen as a powerful tool that could aid U.S. national security, but the company is in a bitter feud with the Pentagon over the use of its AI technology. The White House is now trying to broker an agreement to allow certain civilian agencies access to Mythos, despite the Pentagon's blacklisting of the company.

The details

Anthropic is only rolling out Mythos to a select group of companies and organizations, rather than the general public, so they can assess its cyber capabilities and harden their defenses. Some government agencies want to join that club, and the White House and Anthropic are discussing the terms under which that might be possible. The Office of Management and Budget has sent out an email saying they are looking into the matter, and sources say agencies may get access to Mythos in the coming weeks.

  • The White House and Anthropic are in active discussions about deploying Mythos within the federal government.
  • The Pentagon has declared Anthropic a 'supply chain risk' and barred the company from military contracts.
  • The Office of Management and Budget has sent out an email saying they are looking into the matter of agencies accessing Mythos.
  • Agencies may get access to Mythos in the coming weeks.

The players

Anthropic

An AI firm that has developed a powerful new model called Mythos Preview, which the White House and civilian agencies are seeking to access despite the Pentagon's blacklisting of the company.

The White House

In active discussions with Anthropic about deploying the Mythos model within the federal government, despite the Pentagon's efforts to blacklist the company.

The Pentagon

Has declared Anthropic a 'supply chain risk' and barred the company from military contracts, but civilian agencies are still seeking access to Mythos.

The Department of Energy

A civilian agency responsible for safeguarding the electric grid, which is interested in using Mythos to help prepare for potential cyberattacks.

The Department of Treasury

A civilian agency responsible for safeguarding the financial system, which is also interested in using Mythos to help prepare for potential cyberattacks.

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What they’re saying

“All the intel agencies use Anthropic. Every agency except War wants to. That's because Anthropic doesn't want to kill people and War's position is 'don't tell us what the f*** to do.' But if you're the Department of Energy, you don't give a f*** about that. You're worried about the Chinese attacking the energy grid. So you want Anthropic.”

— Administration Official

“They're using this Mythos cyber weapon to find friendly ears in the government. They're succeeding.”

— Administration Official

What’s next

The White House and Anthropic are expected to reach an agreement in the coming weeks that would allow certain civilian agencies access to the Mythos AI model, despite the Pentagon's ongoing blacklisting of the company.

The takeaway

The White House's efforts to broker an agreement with Anthropic to allow civilian agencies access to the powerful Mythos AI model highlights the tension between the Pentagon's security concerns and the potential national security benefits of the advanced technology. This case underscores the complex balancing act the government faces in regulating emerging AI capabilities.