[Anthropic Hires Ballard Partners for Lobbying After AI Usage Restrictions Lead to Breakdown in Pentagon Negotiations] Odaily Planet Daily reports that Anthropic has hired Ballard Partners, a lobbying firm closely connected to the Trump administration. Disclosure documents show the partnership took effect on March 9, shortly after the Pentagon identified supply chain risks related to the company. Reports indicate that the core disagreement in previous negotiations centered around the scope of AI usage. The Pentagon demanded unrestricted use of its tools, while Anthropic insisted on limiting its products from being deployed in fully autonomous weapons systems or used for large-scale surveillance targeting U.S. citizens. Additionally, Ballard Partners is the sixth lobbying firm Anthropic has hired since November 2024. Data shows its federal lobbying expenditures in 2025 increased by over 330% year-over-year to approximately $3.1 million, reflecting the growing investment in policy communication within the AI industry. (Bloomberg)