The head of the Pentagon ordered US Cyber Command to cease offensive operations against Russia, two informed sources told The New York Times. The order from Hegseth was reported on Saturday by the cybersecurity publication The Record, which tracks cyber operations.
Hegseth's instructions were given before a public spat at the White House on Friday. The exact scope and duration of the Defense Department's order are unclear, as the line between offensive and defensive cyber operations is often blurred.
The tactic of halting military operations during delicate diplomatic negotiations to avoid disrupting them is common. However, for Trump and Hegseth, abandoning offensive cyber operations against Russian targets is a serious risk, as Russia rarely adheres to agreements and conducts hybrid warfare against the West, writes NYT.
Senator Chuck Schumer stated that Trump is giving Putin «free rein, as Russia continues to conduct cyber operations and ransom attacks on key American infrastructure». He called this move by the administration a «critical strategic mistake».
Over the past year, cyberattacks on American hospitals, infrastructure, and cities for ransom have increased, with many originating from Russia, which, according to intelligence officials, are largely criminal activities sanctioned or ignored by Russian intelligence services.
Last year, sabotage actions in Europe intensified, including alleged Russian attempts to cut communication cables, mysterious explosions, and planned Russian assassinations, including on the head of Germany's largest arms manufacturer Rheinmetall.
Many operations to counter Russian threats are conducted by the British Government Communications Headquarters, which broke the «Enigma» codes during World War II, as well as to some extent by Canada. They may continue this activity while the US focuses its attention on China, considered their most complex adversary in cyberspace, the publication believes.
The Trump administration has also begun winding down FBI and other agencies' programs to combat Russian propaganda, and the Pentagon's order will halt, at least for the moment, any further efforts by Cyber Command to thwart future Russian influence campaigns.
Photo: The New York Times