US judge temporarily halts Trump-era sanctions on AI firm Anthropic

A federal judge temporarily blocked sanctions that the Trump administration imposed on AI company Anthropic, ruling the measures likely violated the law. The order freezes a Pentagon designation labeling Anthropic a national security risk and protects the firm while the government decides whether to seek an emergency appeal. The decision protects Anthropic's operations during what could be a prolonged legal battle over the administration's authority to unilaterally designate private companies as security threats. The ruling suggests the court has concerns about the legal basis for the Pentagon's action, potentially constraining how the administration can use national security designations against technology firms. The case now moves to the appellate stage, where the government will argue for reinstatement of the sanctions.