Justice Department appeals the ruling lifting federal-agency restrictions on Anthropic

Bloomberg reports a new Ninth Circuit appeal, while Anthropic's prospectus describes a separate DC Circuit supply-chain dispute that remains unresolved.

The US Justice Department has filed an appeal challenging a ruling that lifted the government's restriction on federal agencies using Anthropic technology, according to Bloomberg's October 26 original reporting. The notice was filed with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and concerns an August decision by US District Judge Rita Lin.

Anthropic's public registration statement provides background on the litigation. It describes an August 27 district-court judgment largely in the company's favour, following challenges to presidential and Department of War actions affecting government use and procurement. Those disclosures establish the company's account of the earlier proceedings; Bloomberg supplies the report of the October 26 appeal.

The prospectus also describes a distinct DC Circuit proceeding concerning a supply-chain-risk designation under the Federal Acquisition Supply Chain Security Act. In that case, a September 25 panel decision went against Anthropic, and the company sought review by the full court. The two appellate tracks should not be treated as one ruling with one universal outcome.

For government customers and contractors, that distinction affects how the news is interpreted. A challenge to restrictions on agency use and review of a particular procurement designation can involve different legal authorities and consequences. An appeal filing does not itself establish that the challenged district-court judgment has been reversed.

The immediate development is renewed appellate litigation over one part of the government's restrictions. Anthropic's own disclosure says it cannot predict the lawsuits' ultimate outcome or their effect on sales involving government customers. The next material evidence will be the courts' orders in the relevant proceedings.

Sources

- [Justice Department Appeals Ruling Allowing Anthropic AI Use by US Agencies](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-26/doj-appeals-court-ruling-lifting-ban-on-agency-anthropic-use) — Bloomberg - [Anthropic litigation disclosures](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/2130357/000162828026067168/anthropicpbc-sx1.htm) — Anthropic / SEC