GSA Restores Anthropic After NDCA Injunction Pauses Federal Ban
GSA (April 3) withdraws its Feb 27 Anthropic removal, restoring pre-directive access — system integrations, GSA Chat, external services, MAS — after Judge Rita Lin’s March 26 preliminary injunction blocked 17 agencies from enforcing the presidential stop-use directive and related supply-chain-risk designation. Temporary court pause, not a merits win.
Federal AI procurement can reverse in a week when a district court says pause. The GSA statement’s frame: restore the pre–February 27 status quo because the injunction — not a new agency preference — requires it.
U.S. GSA (April 3) withdrew its February 27 removal of Anthropic from federal systems and restored technology to the prior status quo, responding to a March 26 preliminary injunction from U.S. District Judge Rita F. Lin, N.D. Cal. (Case No. 26-cv-01996-RFL). Order blocked 17 named federal agencies from implementing/enforcing the presidential directive to stop using Anthropic tools and related supply-chain-risk designation pending further proceedings; stayed seven days, effective ~April 2.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Feb 27 | GSA removes Anthropic from USAi.gov and MAS under presidential stop-use directive (tied to supply-chain-risk designation) |
| Mar 26 | NDCA grants Anthropic PI |
| ~Apr 2 | Stay lifts; order effective |
| Apr 3 | GSA withdraws removal; restores access |
Restoration scope (GSA)
- System integrations with Anthropic products continue.
- Anthropic models in GSA Chat.
- Available in external-facing services.
- Remains on Multiple Award Schedule.
Related DoD supply-chain-risk litigation continues in parallel tracks.
Claims vs checks
GSA operational restoration is agency primary. Injunction scope is court order. This is preliminary relief — not a final judgment that the supply-chain designation was unlawful. DoD/NSA Mythos tensions later in April show the broader fight is not settled by GSA alone.
Limits
- PI can be modified/appealed.
- Agency-by-agency compliance may lag GSA’s statement.
- Underlying designation merits unresolved.
Sources
- GSA: “GSA Issues Statement on Anthropic Preliminary Injunction” (April 3, 2026).
- U.S. District Court N.D. Cal., Case No. 26-cv-01996-RFL (PI March 26, 2026).
- Related coverage of supply-chain-risk designation and agency actions (February–March 2026).