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New Pentagon Data Chief Takes Post During Fight Over Military AI Guardrails

By  |  March 8, 2026

The U.S. Department of Defense has appointed computer scientist Gavin Kliger as its new Chief Data Officer, placing him in a central role in the Pentagon’s expanding artificial intelligence initiatives, according to Reuters.

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    Kliger, who previously assisted billionaire Elon Musk in efforts to overhaul parts of the U.S. government last year, will now help oversee data strategy and AI development within the defense department, per Reuters. The appointment comes as the Pentagon intensifies its focus on artificial intelligence to support military operations and decision-making.

    In a social media post announcing the move, the Pentagon said Kliger’s position “places him at the center of the Department’s most ambitious AI efforts,” adding that his responsibilities will include “day-to-day alignment and execution of the Department’s AI projects, working directly with America’s frontier AI labs to support the warfighter.”

    Kliger’s appointment has drawn attention because of his previous online activity. Reuters reported last year that he had reposted material from white supremacist Nick Fuentes and self-described misogynist Andrew Tate, along with making other controversial comments on social media, according to Reuters.

    Read more: Pentagon’s AI Push Faces Friction With Anthropic Over Usage Restrictions

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    In response to those reports, Kliger rejected allegations that he supported extremist figures. In an email addressing the issue, he said he was honored to take on the new position and disputed claims about his views. “The suggestion ⁠that I support ‘bigots,’ ‘extremists,’ or white supremacists is categorically untrue,” he said.

    The leadership change comes at a time when the Pentagon’s use of artificial intelligence has become a focal point in Washington. According to Reuters, a dispute between the Defense Department and AI company Anthropic over limits on how military agencies could deploy the company’s technology intensified in recent weeks.

    The disagreement centered on restrictions Anthropic placed on its Claude AI system, including bans on using the technology for autonomous weapons or mass surveillance programs in the United States, per Reuters. Pentagon officials argued they should be able to use advanced AI tools when necessary, provided such use complies with U.S. law.

    The conflict escalated earlier this year and ultimately contributed to a decision by the Trump administration last week to replace Anthropic with OpenAI for certain AI-related work with the Pentagon, according to Reuters.

    Tensions deepened further on Thursday when the Defense Department assigned Anthropic a formal supply-chain risk designation, an unusual step against a U.S. technology firm, per Reuters. The company had previously worked with the Pentagon earlier than many of its competitors and had actively pursued partnerships with national security agencies.

    The dispute highlights broader questions about how the military will adopt and regulate artificial intelligence technologies as the Pentagon accelerates its AI strategy.

    Source: Reuters