Overview
Jon Tester served three terms in the U.S. Senate representing Montana, from January 2007 until January 2025. His legislative work included veterans' policy, agriculture and government oversight; he chaired the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee from 2021 to 2025. He lost his reelection bid in 2024. [1]
Anthropic national-security and public-sector advisory council
On August 27, 2025, Anthropic announced Tester as an inaugural member of its bipartisan National Security and Public Sector Advisory Council. Anthropic described the council as advising on public-sector applications of AI, partnerships with U.S. government agencies and allied democracies, and responsible national-security uses of the technology. Its announced membership included former officials from Democratic and Republican administrations. [5]
Anthropic's announcement does not specify Tester's compensation or any involvement in government procurement decisions. Montana Free Press independently noted in November 2026 that Tester had served on the council since August 2025. [3]
Palantir advisory arrangement
On November 9, 2026, NPR and Montana Free Press reported that Tester had joined Palantir Technologies in a paid advisory capacity. He confirmed the arrangement, said it was consulting rather than lobbying, and declined to disclose compensation. In a Montana Free Press interview, Tester said the company had first approached him in July 2026, before the November midterms, and that he intended to advise Palantir on transparency and the government-services side of its work. [2] [3]
Tester said his new work is consistent with his record of raising privacy objections to government surveillance. His description of his work is his account; the full contractual terms and compensation were not independently available in the cited reports. A former senator providing internal corporate advice does not, on its own, establish prohibited lobbying.
Congressional and federal-contract context
Palantir supplies software to multiple federal agencies, including ICE. On November 5, Senator Richard Blumenthal wrote Palantir CEO Alex Karp seeking records about the company's White House ballroom donation, requesting initial production by November 30 and warning that additional measures could be considered after January 4, 2027. Separately, NPR reported congressional questions led by Senator Ron Wyden about Palantir's DHS-related technology and alleged surveillance risks. Palantir has denied facilitating mass surveillance of American citizens. [2] [4]
Neither congressional inquiry is a determination of wrongdoing; no reviewed evidence establishes Tester participated in Palantir's original federal procurement or directed any agency enforcement decisions.
Timeline
- Represents Montana in the U.S. Senate.
- Opposes expansion of PATRIOT Act surveillance powers, according to Montana Free Press.
- Anthropic names Tester to its National Security and Public Sector Advisory Council.
- Palantir first approaches Tester, according to his later interview.
- Confirms paid advisory position; states that his role is not lobbying.
Sources & original records
Reports and source documents are attributed to their authors. Descriptions of allegations or proposed oversight are not findings of misconduct.
- U.S. Senate — Montana and Jon Tester service ↗Official Senate timeline
- NPR — Tester hired as Palantir adviser, November 9 ↗NPR original reporting, public broadcaster mirror
- Montana Free Press — direct Tester interview, November 9 ↗Independent reporting and attributed quotes
- U.S. Senate — Blumenthal to Palantir CEO, November 5 (PDF p. 73) ↗Primary oversight letter
- Anthropic — advisory council announcement, August 27, 2025 ↗Primary company source naming Tester as an inaugural council member and describing the council's purpose.
Evidence rule: A documented professional or ideological relationship is not proof that the parties directed each other's later decisions or violated any law.