In June 2026, the US Commerce Department imposed export controls citing national security on Anthropic's frontier models Fable 5 and Mythos 5, prompting the company to pause both models worldwide. The decision marks a shift in control over AI policy within the Trump administration, moving from David Sacks and others to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
June 18, 2026 · White House AI Policy
The Power Center of U.S. AI Policy Shifts From Tech Designers to Cabinet Chiefs
Early architects David Sacks and Sriram Krishnan see their influence shrink, while authority moves to cabinet secretaries led by Commerce chief Howard Lutnick — whose profile soared after sweeping export curbs on Anthropic's frontier models.
2
Frontier models hit by curbsFable 5 · Mythos 5
1st
Use of the 2018 Export Control Reform Act
Global
Models reportedly taken offline worldwide
Who's Out, Who's In
Influence Shrinking ↓
David Sacks
Former AI/crypto czar — stepped back around March; retains influence as PCAST co-chair
Sriram Krishnan
Policy architect — set to depart at end of June
Authority Rising ↑
Howard Lutnick
Commerce Secretary — led the Anthropic export curbs
Scott Bessent
Treasury Secretary — expanding influence
Susie Wiles
White House Chief of Staff
Ryan Baasch
National Economic Council — policy coordination
The Move That Reshaped the Map
Worldwide export restrictions on Anthropic's frontier models, around June 12, 2026
Letter under Lutnick's name
Curbs issued
→
Access cut for foreign nationals
Fable 5 · Mythos 5
→
Models taken offline globally
Temporarily
Seen as a win
Some inside the administration praised Lutnick's swift action as decisive problem-solving against the leakage of advanced AI to countries such as China and Russia.
The friction
Tension reportedly emerged with Cyber Director Sean Cairncross over urgency and jurisdiction; observers ask whether technical expertise is being pushed from the center of decisions.
The center of gravity is moving from technical designers to cabinet chiefs — making the operation of export controls and the division of roles among agencies a key factor shaping the direction of U.S. AI policy.
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