U.S. Office of Personnel Management Drops Claude, Adds Grok and Codex to AI Use Disclosure

Why It Matters

The shift signals a rapid realignment of federal AI procurement away from Anthropic, while the Pentagon’s new CISO underscores heightened focus on cyber resilience amid expanding AI adoption.

Key Takeaways

• OPM drops Claude after Trump‑issued Anthropic ban
• Grok and Codex added to OPM AI inventory
• Federal agencies rapidly discontinue Anthropic services
• Pentagon names Aaron Bishop acting CISO, bolstering cyber oversight
• AI policy scrutiny intensifies across U.S. government

Pulse Analysis

The Office of Personnel Management’s latest AI‑use disclosure reflects a broader governmental pivot toward tighter oversight of emerging technologies. By excising Anthropic’s Claude, OPM aligns with a presidential directive that bans the vendor over concerns about insufficient guardrails. This move not only curtails a specific AI model but also sends a clear message to contractors: compliance with federal security standards is non‑negotiable. Agencies are now re‑evaluating contracts, emphasizing transparency, and documenting AI deployments to satisfy both legislative and public scrutiny.

Replacing Claude, OPM listed Grok from Elon Musk’s xAI and Codex, OpenAI’s code‑generation engine. The inclusion of these tools diversifies the agency’s AI portfolio, reducing reliance on a single supplier and spreading risk across multiple vendors. Grok’s conversational capabilities and Codex’s developer‑focused functionality address distinct operational needs, from citizen engagement to internal software automation. This strategic mix illustrates how federal entities are tailoring AI selections to specific mission requirements while navigating the evolving regulatory landscape.

Meanwhile, the Pentagon’s appointment of James “Aaron” Bishop as acting CISO highlights the intersection of cybersecurity and AI governance at the highest defense levels. Bishop’s mandate includes shaping policy, overseeing technical implementations, and ensuring that AI‑driven systems adhere to rigorous security protocols. As the DoD expands its use of generative AI for analytics and decision‑support, robust cyber leadership becomes essential to mitigate threats such as model poisoning or data exfiltration. Together, the OPM disclosure update and the Pentagon’s leadership change underscore a federal trend: integrating advanced AI responsibly while fortifying the cyber foundations that protect national security.

Original Description

The Office of Personnel Management removed Claude and added Grok and Codex in an update to its public disclosure of AI use cases dated Wednesday. Removal of Claude comes after a disagreement between its maker, Anthropic, and the Department of Defense over the technology’s guardrails culminated in President Donald Trump issuing a governmentwide ban on the company late last week. In the following days, numerous federal agencies have made moves to stop using Anthropic’s services, including OPM.

James “Aaron” Bishop has been tapped to serve as the Pentagon’s chief information security officer and deputy CIO for cybersecurity, the department announced on social media Thursday. He assumed the role of CISO in an acting capacity on Feb. 27, according to a LinkedIn post from the Office of the Chief Information Officer. In his new position, he’ll work under DOD CIO Kirsten Davies and be responsible for providing policy, technical, program and oversight support to the CIO on all cybersecurity matters.

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Links:

• OPM drops Claude, adds Grok and Codex to AI use disclosure via FedScoop: https://fedscoop.com/opm-drops-claude-adds-grok-codex-ai-use-disclosure/

• Pentagon gets new CISO with appointment of Aaron Bishop via DefenseScoop: https://defensescoop.com/2026/03/05/pentagon-ciso-aaron-bishop/

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