NSA is reportedly using Anthropic’s Mythos model despite Pentagon blacklist

The reported use points to a growing split inside the US government as officials weigh Anthropic’s cyber capabilities against an ongoing DoD crackdown.

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Add us on Google by Estefano Gomez Apr. 20, 2026

The National Security Agency is using Anthropic’s Mythos Preview despite the Pentagon’s supply chain risk designation against the company, according to an Axios report.

Axios said two sources told the outlet the NSA was using the model, while one source said usage had also expanded more broadly within the department.

The report highlights a widening contradiction inside the US government. In March, the Pentagon formally designated Anthropic a supply chain risk, a step that limited the use of the company’s technology in military contracts after a dispute over Anthropic’s refusal to loosen safeguards related to autonomous weapons and domestic surveillance.

Axios said it remains unclear how the NSA is using Mythos, though organizations with access to the model have used it to scan their own systems for exploitable security vulnerabilities. Anthropic limited Mythos access to roughly 40 organizations because of the model’s offensive cyber capabilities.

The timing is notable because the White House appears to be exploring a path forward with Anthropic even as the court fight continues. Axios reported last week that Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei met White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss government use of Mythos and the company’s broader security practices.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Estefano Gomez. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.