Pentagon Appoints New Chief Data Officer Amid AI Controversy

The United States Department of Defense has appointed computer scientist Gavin Kliger as its new Chief Data Officer. According to the Pentagon, his role will place him at the center of the department’s most ambitious AI initiatives, focusing on the daily coordination and execution of AI projects. He will also work closely with America’s advanced AI laboratories to support military operations. Kliger previously helped billionaire Elon Musk in efforts to overhaul government systems last year.

However, the appointment has drawn attention due to Kliger’s controversial social media activity. Between October 2024 and January 2025, he reportedly shared posts and views linked to white supremacist Nick Fuentes and influencer Andrew Tate, who has described himself as a misogynist. The Pentagon has not yet responded in detail to requests for further comment regarding the controversy surrounding his past online posts.

Meanwhile, tensions have also grown between the Pentagon and AI company Anthropic over the military use of AI technologies. The dispute intensified after the Donald Trump administration decided to replace Anthropic with OpenAI for certain defense-related work. Anthropic has refused to allow its Claude AI system to be used for autonomous weapons or mass surveillance, while the Pentagon argues it should be able to deploy such technologies if they comply with U.S. law.