US Said to Halt Offensive Cyber Operations Against Russia
The United States has suspended its offensive cyber operations against Russia, according to reports, amid efforts by the Trump administration to grant Moscow concessions to end the war in Ukraine. The reported order to halt U.S.-launched hacking operations against Russia was authorized by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to The Record.
The new guidance affects operations carried out by U.S. Cyber Command, a division of the Department of Defense focused on hacking and operations in cyberspace, but does not apply to espionage operations conducted by the National Security Agency. The reported order has since been confirmed by The New York Times and The Washington Post.
The order was handed down before Friday’s Oval Office meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, according to the reports. The New York Times said that the instruction came as part of a broader effort to draw Russian President Vladimir Putin into talks about the country’s ongoing war in Ukraine.
U.S. Cyber Command and the Pentagon did not respond to TechCrunch’s questions, but a senior defense official told The Record that it does not “discuss cyber intelligence, plans, or operations.”
The Shift in U.S. Policy Towards Russia
The reported shift in U.S. policy by the Trump administration toward Russia comes just months after the U.S. intelligence community said that Russia poses an “enduring cyber threat” to the United States.
In its annual threat assessment, the U.S. warned that Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service, or SVR, continues to target U.S. government agencies and critical infrastructure such as underwater cables and industrial control systems.
The Impact on Russian Cyber Threats
The reported shift in U.S. policy has significant implications for Russian cyber threats. The Guardian also reports that the Trump administration has signaled it no longer views Russian hackers as a cybersecurity threat, and reportedly ordered U.S. cybersecurity agency CISA to no longer report on Russian threats.
CISA employees were reportedly informed verbally that they were to pause any work on Russian cyber threats. However, the Department of Homeland Security denied this report in a statement to TechCrunch, saying that CISA remains committed to addressing all cyber threats to U.S. critical infrastructure, including from Russia.
The Background of the Order
The reported order was authorized by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and affects operations carried out by U.S. Cyber Command. The new guidance does not apply to espionage operations conducted by the National Security Agency.
The Trump administration is reportedly seeking to draw Russian President Vladimir Putin into talks about the country’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The order was handed down before Friday’s Oval Office meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
What It Means for the Future of Cybersecurity
The reported shift in U.S. policy towards Russia has significant implications for the future of cybersecurity. The decision to halt offensive cyber operations against Russia is likely to be a major topic of discussion at the upcoming G20 summit in Argentina.
The move also raises questions about the role of the U.S. government in the global cybersecurity landscape. Will this shift in policy lead to a renewed focus on cooperation with other countries, or will it mark a new era of isolationism?