Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pauses US cyberoperations against Russia
The Brief
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has halted offensive cyberoperations against Russia by US Cyber Command.
The decision does not affect cyber efforts by other agencies like the CIA or CISA.
Experts warn the pause could leave the US vulnerable to cyber threats from Russia and China.
WASHINGTON - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a pause on offensive cyberoperations against Russia, rolling back some of the Pentagon's efforts to counter foreign cyber threats.
A US official, speaking anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter, confirmed the decision Monday. The move does not impact cyber operations led by other government agencies, including the CIA and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
However, the Trump administration has also scaled back FBI efforts and other counter-digital security programs, raising concerns among national security and cybersecurity experts about the US response to foreign cyber threats.
What we know
US Cyber Command, a division of the Department of Defense, is responsible for military cyber defenses and planning offensive cyberoperations.
The decision to pause operations was first reported by The Record, though the exact reasoning behind it remains unclear. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has faced mounting criticism for rolling back cyber and election security efforts across multiple federal agencies.
RELATED: Trump pauses aid to Ukraine after Oval Office clash with Zelenskyy
What we don't know
It is uncertain whether the pause is connected to ongoing US-Russia diplomatic efforts regarding Ukraine.
The White House has not commented on whether Hegseth's directive is part of a larger national security strategy. Additionally, no timeline has been provided for when, or if, offensive cyberoperations against Russia will resume.
The other side
Many national security and cybersecurity experts argue that pausing offensive cyberoperations weakens the US's ability to counter growing threats from Russia and China. They have urged the government to expand its cyber capabilities, warning that adversaries are becoming more aggressive in digital warfare.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe has previously emphasized the importance of cyber offense, stating during his Senate confirmation hearing, "I want us to have all of the tools necessary to go on offense against our adversaries in the cyber community."
RELATED: What's next after Trump-Zelenskyy blowup?
What they're saying
Cybersecurity expert Snehal Antani, CEO of Horizon3.ai, warned that cyber threats are evolving rapidly, making this a critical moment for US cyber readiness.
"We are entering this era of cyber-enabled economic warfare that is at the nation-state level," Antani said. "We're in this really challenging era where offense is significantly better than defense, and it's going to take a while for defense to catch up."
Liana Keesing, campaigns manager for technology reform at Issue One, criticized the administration's approach, suggesting that the rollback of cyber efforts could leave the US vulnerable.
RELATED: Zelenskyy on FOX: 'Spat' during Oval Office meeting 'not good for both sides'
"Instead of confronting this threat, the Trump administration has actively taken steps to make it easier for the Kremlin to interfere in our electoral processes," Keesing said.
The Source
This report is based on information from The Associated Press, including statements from US officials and reporting from The Record, which first broke the news of the cyberoperations pause. Additional context regarding national security concerns and cybersecurity threats comes from expert analysis by CIA Director John Ratcliffe, cybersecurity specialist Snehal Antani, and technology policy expert Liana Keesing.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


New York Times
22 minutes ago
- New York Times
Hegseth Defends Deployment of Troops to Los Angeles at Testy Hearing
In response to often sharp questioning from House Democrats on Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the Pentagon's deployment of nearly 5,000 active-duty Marines and National Guard members to help the police in Los Angeles quell sporadic unrest. Mr. Hegseth, a former National Guardsman, also suggested in testimony before the House Appropriations Committee that the use of the Guard, part-time citizen soldiers, for homeland defense would expand under President Trump. 'I think we're entering another phase, especially under President Trump with his focus on the homeland, where the National Guard and Reserves become a critical component of how we secure that homeland,' Mr. Hegseth told lawmakers. Officials in Los Angeles, as well as other major cities across the country controlled by Democrats, have expressed concern that the military deployments in California could set a precedent and serve as a test run for other urban areas where the administration's aggressive immigration enforcement could prompt large protests. Mr. Hegseth defended the deployment on Monday of 4,000 California National Guard troops and 700 Marines, telling lawmakers, 'We ought to be able to enforce immigration law in this country.' The secretary had several testy exchanges with Democrats on the committee, who challenged him on the efficacy and cost of the deployments. At one point, he ignored direct questions from Representative Betty McCollum of Minnesota, the top Democrat on the committee's defense panel, about the cost to deploy troops to Los Angeles. Instead, Mr. Hegseth used his time to attack Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California, Mayor Karen Bass of Los Angeles and the Biden administration. A clearly frustrated Ms. McCollum yielded back her time. When he was questioned again on the mission's projected costs, Mr. Hegseth deferred to the Pentagon's acting comptroller, Bryn Woollacott MacDonnell, who said that Marine and National Guard deployments — estimated to last 60 days — would cost about $134 million, mainly for travel, housing and food. John Ismay contributed reporting.

USA Today
26 minutes ago
- USA Today
Will Trump invoke the Insurrection Act? 'We'll see,' he says
Will Trump invoke the Insurrection Act? 'We'll see,' he says Show Caption Hide Caption Anti-ICE raid demonstrators protest into fourth night Anti-immigration raid protests are continuing into the fourth night as the Pentagon deployed active-duty U.S. Marines. President Donald Trump mulled invoking the Insurrection Act, which would give him more leeway to use the military for domestic purposes, as he deploys troops to Los Angeles in response to protests prompted by ICE raids in the region. "If there's an insurrection, I would certainly invoke it,' Trump said June 10 during an event in the White House. 'We'll see. But I can tell you, last night was terrible. The night before that was terrible." Trump deployed the California National Guard to Los Angeles over the objection of Gov. Gavin Newsom, sparking a lawsuit from the state. Marines were also sent to help the guard after protests erupted over his immigration enforcement efforts. The troops are limited to protecting federal property and law enforcement officers. The Insurrection Act would give Trump authority to use them more broadly. More: 'High-stakes game': Trump-Newsom clash pits two political heavyweights Trump said there were parts of Los Angeles on June 9 where "you could have called it an insurrection. It was terrible." Newsom described Trump's actions as "the acts of a dictator" and accused the president of 'inciting and provoking violence,' 'creating mass chaos,' and 'militarizing cities.' Legal experts say invoking the Insurrection Act is an extreme step. It has been done 30 times in U.S. history. "The invocation of it would be viewed as a pretty dramatic act," said Duke Law Professor H. Jefferson Powell. Powell said the law is "dangerously broad." The last time the Insurrection Act was invoked was in May 1992, by President George H.W. Bush at the request of California's governor, to quell rioting in Los Angeles after four White police officers were acquitted for beating Black motorist Rodney King.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
What the 'Big, Beautiful' tax bill means for municipal bonds
JPMorgan raised its forecast for municipal bond sales in 2025 to $560 billion as US lawmakers deliberate over President Trump's "big, beautiful" tax and spending bill in the Senate. Goldman Sachs Asset Management co-head of municipal fixed income Sylvia Yeh weighs in on what policy changes to the US tax code could mean for municipal bond investors, as well as valuation catalysts in comparison to Treasury yields (^TYX, ^TNX, ^FVX). Goldman Sachs manages several municipal bond ETFs (GMUB, GCAL, GMNY, GUMI). To watch more expert insights and analysis on the latest market action, check out more Catalysts here. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data