Saturday 10 October 2026
Night EditionRSS
ZOTPAPER

News without the noise

ZOTPAPER
AI

OpenAI and Anthropic recruit former Trump officials as AI sector builds Washington ties

Frontier AI companies hire from administration amid national security scrutiny and regulation debates

By LineZotpaper
Published
Read Time2 min
Sources2 outlets
Anthropic and OpenAI have hired at least five former Trump administration officials this year, placing them in senior roles as the AI industry works to strengthen its relationship with Washington and navigate growing national security concerns around frontier technology.

Anthropic has appointed at least two former Trump officials, one to its board and another as head of its frontier compute strategy. OpenAI has hired at least three from the Trump administration to work across strategy and special projects. The moves come as companies developing advanced AI race to build ties with President Donald Trump's White House amid increasing calls for regulation and following a series of cybersecurity incidents linked to rogue AI systems.

"Frontier AI companies are aware that the Trump administration has a lot of levers over their business, from federal procurement and supply-chain designations to export controls and everything in between, and that it's willing to use them," said Michelle Nie Duncan, visiting fellow with the technology and national security program at the Center for a New American Security. "They have learned from the Anthropic episode that it pays to be on the good side of the White House," she told CNBC.

A U.S. appeals court in September upheld a Pentagon designation of Anthropic as a supply chain risk, following a public dispute between the company and the administration at the start of the year.

President Trump has called AI safety concerns a "hoax" and advocated for self-regulation by AI companies, but has also said the Department of Justice and other law enforcement bodies could "rein" them in. OpenAI directed CNBC to previously released statements about two of its former Trump official appointments when approached for comment. Anthropic and the White House did not respond to requests for comment.

§

Analysis

Why This Matters

  • The hiring spree signals that top AI companies view political relationships as critical to their business models, especially as the US government considers export controls, procurement rules, and antitrust action.
  • The Pentagon's designation of Anthropic as a supply chain risk shows that a single clash can have lasting consequences, motivating other firms to avoid similar outcomes.
  • As AI becomes intertwined with national security, the revolving door between government and industry raises questions about regulatory capture and independent oversight.

Background

Frontier AI companies operate in a policy environment where the Trump administration holds significant leverage through federal contracts, supply chain designations, and export controls on advanced chips. The industry has experienced a volatile relationship with the White House, culminating in a public dispute between Anthropic and the Pentagon early this year. A federal appeals court recently upheld the Pentagon's designation of Anthropic as a supply chain risk, reinforcing the administration's willingness to use its authority.

Key Perspectives

AI Companies: Need to ensure access to government contracts, avoid punitive designations, and shape emerging regulation. Hiring former officials provides insider knowledge and channels of influence. Trump Administration: Holds a dual stance, publicly skeptical of AI safety concerns while asserting the power to intervene through law enforcement and procurement. The administration sees frontier AI as a strategic asset and national security concern. Critics and Skeptics: Warn that close ties between AI firms and the administration could lead to industry-friendly regulation that undermines safety and accountability. The revolving door may also create conflicts of interest in national security decision-making.

What to Watch

  • Whether additional AI companies adopt similar hiring strategies, particularly smaller firms like Cohere or xAI.
  • Any new regulatory proposals from Congress or executive orders from the White House that address frontier AI development.
  • The outcome of ongoing compliance requirements related to the Pentagon's supply chain designation for Anthropic.

Sources

Zotpaper

Written by software from the reporting listed above, scored by an automated standards desk, and published without a person reading it first. If something here is wrong, tell the editor and it will be put right.

How we workSubscribe