Latest news with #USCyberCommand
Al Jazeera
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
Pentagon confirms four-star general's firing amid Trump security purge
The United States Department of Defense has confirmed it fired the head of the National Security Agency, in a move that sparked outrage over an alleged purge of security officials. On Friday, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell released a short statement, acknowledging the departure of four-star Air Force General Timothy Haugh as director of the National Security Agency (NSA), one of the government's top intelligence-gathering bodies. Haugh also led the US Cyber Command, which prepares for and defends against attacks in the digital sphere. 'The Defense Department thanks General Timothy Haugh for his decades of service to our nation, culminating as US Cyber Command commander and National Security Agency director. We wish him and his family well,' Parnell said. Multiple media reports, however, suggested that Haugh's ouster came at the suggestion of a far-right internet activist, Laura Loomer, who supported President Donald Trump's campaign for re-election in 2024. Democrats also seized upon the fact that Trump did not fire anyone involved in the recent controversy over the use of the messaging app Signal to discuss sensitive plans to bomb Houthi targets in Yemen – something that came to light after a journalist was accidentally added to the chat. 'Gen. Haugh led the NSA and Cyber Command with steady, effective leadership,' Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona wrote on social media Friday. 'By dismissing him and failing to hold anyone accountable for the threat to U.S. pilots over Signal, Trump has shown he values loyalty over competence – making us all less safe.' Another Democratic senator, Mark Warner of Virginia, echoed that sentiment, calling the situation 'so crazy it defies belief'. 'Trump refused to fire the people that embarrassed America and risked servicemembers' lives in the Signalgate scandal,' Warner wrote, 'but fired Gen. Haugh, a nonpartisan national security expert, at the advice of a self-described 'pro-white nationalist'.' Haugh was just one in a slate of firings this week that came after Trump met with Loomer at the White House. Media reports indicate Haugh's civilian deputy at the NSA, Wendy Noble, was booted from her position as well and reassigned. In addition, multiple members of the National Security Council also appear to have been removed from their positions, including Brian Walsh, a senior director of intelligence, and Thomas Boodry, the senior director of legislative affairs. The Reuters news agency estimated that more than a dozen security officials were dismissed as part of the alleged purge. As he flew to South Florida for a golf tournament on Thursday, Trump addressed the rumours, acknowledging 'some' people were fired but refusing to give specifics about the total. 'Always, we're going to let go of people – people we don't like or people that we don't think can do the job or people who may have loyalties to someone else,' Trump said from Air Force One. He also addressed his meeting with Loomer earlier in the week, offering high praise for the internet personality. 'Laura Loomer is a very good patriot,' he said. 'She's a very strong person, and I saw her yesterday for a little while. She makes recommendations.' When pressed about what that meant, he conceded that Loomer not only recommends individuals to hire – but also to fire. He did, however, dismiss reports that Loomer was involved in a purge of security officials. Loomer herself addressed Haugh's removal on Thursday, accusing the four-star general of insufficient loyalty to the Trump administration. She also attempted to paint Haugh as an acolyte of former President Joe Biden, the Democrat who bested Trump in the 2020 election. 'NSA Director Tim Haugh and his deputy Wendy Noble have been disloyal to President Trump. That is why they have been fired,' she wrote. 'Their firings are a blessing for the American people. Thank you President Trump for being receptive to the vetting materials provided to you and thank you for firing these Biden holdovers.' Loomer has long been a controversial figure on the US right. She once called herself a 'proud Islamophobe' and has spread the debunked conspiracy theory that the attacks on September 11, 2001, were an 'inside job'. Her proximity to the president has caused ripples of concern within Trump's administration – and has been seized upon as a point of criticism for Democrats. The ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, Jim Himes, demanded an 'immediate explanation' for Haugh's firing, arguing it makes 'all of us less safe'. 'I have known General Haugh to be an honest and forthright leader who followed the law and put national security first,' Himes wrote. 'I fear those are precisely the qualities that could lead to his firing in this Administration.'
Ya Libnan
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Ya Libnan
Trump fires director of National Security Agency
The dismissal of Gen. Timothy Haugh, who also leads US Cyber Command — the military's offensive and defensive cyber unit — is a major shakeup of the US intelligence community The Trump administration has fired the director and deputy director of the National Security Agency, the United States' powerful cyber intelligence bureau, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the situation, members of the Senate and House intelligence committees and two former officials familiar with the matter. The dismissal of Gen. Timothy Haugh, who also leads US Cyber Command — the military's offensive and defensive cyber unit — is a major shakeup of the US intelligence community The dismissal of Gen. Timothy Haugh, who also leads US Cyber Command — the military's offensive and defensive cyber unit — is a major shakeup of the US intelligence community which is navigating significant changes in the first two months of the Trump administration. Wendy Noble, Haugh's deputy at NSA, was also removed, according to the former officials and lawmakers. The top Democrats on the Senate and House intelligence committee, Sen. Mark Warner and Rep. Jim Himes, denounced the firing of Haugh, who served in the roles since February 2024, in statements on Thursday night. CNN
Express Tribune
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Timothy Haugh, NSA Director, fired by Trump in surprise reshuffle
U.S. Air Force General and Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) Timothy Haugh attends a House Intelligence Committee hearing about worldwide threats, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 26, 2025. REUTERS/Leah Millis/File Photo Listen to article The director of the US National Security Agency was fired on Thursday, the Washington Post reported, citing two current and one former US officials. Timothy Haugh, who is also head of US Cyber Command, was dismissed along with his deputy at the NSA, Wendy Noble, the newspaper said. Noble was reassigned to a job within the Pentagon's office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence, the newspaper said. The NSA is part of the US Defense Department. The current and former officials cited by the Washington Post said they did not know the reason for Haugh's dismissal or Noble's reassignment. US Cyber Command deputy William Hartmann was named acting NSA director and Sheila Thomas, who was the executive director at the NSA, was named acting deputy, newspaper said. The Pentagon and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Democrat Jim Himes, a ranking member of the House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence and Senator Mark Warner, the Democratic vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee condemned Haugh's firing. "It is astonishing that President Trump would fire the nonpartisan, experienced leader of the NSA while still failing to hold any member of his team accountable for leaking classified information on a commercial messaging app – even as he apparently takes staffing direction on national security from a discredited conspiracy theorist in the Oval Office," Warner wrote in a post on X. Republican President Donald Trump, since taking office on January 20, has fired multiple top officials at US agencies and installed loyalists. Elon Musk, who is leading the Trump administration's effort to cut and streamline the federal government's workforce, visited the National Security Agency last month to meet Haugh. The NSA is one of the United States' premier intelligence agencies and uses top-tier, specialized technology and systems to collect and analyze intelligence. US Cyber Command carries out both offensive and defensive operations and monitors the networks of the Department of Defense.
Al Arabiya
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Al Arabiya
US National Security Agency director Timothy Haugh fired: Reports
The director of the US National Security Agency was fired on Thursday, the Washington Post reported, citing two current and one former US officials. Timothy Haugh, who is also head of US Cyber Command, was dismissed along with his deputy at the NSA, Wendy Noble, the newspaper said. Noble was reassigned to a job within the Pentagon's office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence, the newspaper said. The NSA is part of the US Defense Department. The current and former officials cited by the Washington Post said they did not know the reason for Haugh's dismissal or Noble's reassignment. US Cyber Command deputy William Hartmann was named acting NSA director and Sheila Thomas, who was the executive director at the NSA, was named acting deputy, newspaper said. The Pentagon and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Democrat Jim Himes, a ranking member of the House of Representatives Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, condemned Haugh's firing. Republican President Donald Trump, since taking office on January 20, has fired multiple top officials at US agencies and installed loyalists. Elon Musk, who is leading the Trump administration's effort to cut and streamline the federal government's workforce, visited the National Security Agency last month to meet Haugh. The NSA is one of the United States' premier intelligence agencies and uses top-tier, specialized technology and systems to collect and analyze intelligence. US Cyber Command carries out both offensive and defensive operations and monitors the networks of the Department of Defense.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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 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.
