The Trump administration may be downplaying its focus on Russia as a top cyber threat, with reports suggesting that US Cyber Command is standing down from tracking Russian offensive cyber operations. The decision has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the US government’s response to nation-state threats in the digital realm.
For years, Russia has been viewed as a major cyber threat to the US and other Western nations. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence has highlighted Russia’s enduring global cyber threat, citing its priority on cyber operations for the Ukrainian war. However, recent reports suggest that this may no longer be the case.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered US Cyber Command chief Gen. Timothy Haugh to stand down from all planning against Russia, including offensive digital actions. The order does not apply to the National Security Agency or its signals intelligence work targeting Russia.
However, experts say that this move is likely a tactic to draw Russian President Vladimir Putin into peace talks with Ukraine and a new relationship with the US. Mark Montgomery, senior director at the Center on Cyber and Technology Innovation, says that “it violates fundamental principles of both international relations and cybersecurity.” He believes that the administration’s approach will only invite further aggression from Russia.
Despite this, some Republican lawmakers are disputing the reports of Cybercom’s supposed retreat. Representative Mike Turner has expressed concern that the move would be inaccurate and undermine US national security efforts against Russia.
The shift in focus from Russia comes as the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) sends an internal memo setting out new priorities, including China but excluding Russia. This decision has been met with skepticism by some experts, who argue that it undermines the agency’s mission to defend against all cyber threats.
Experts say that any move to disregard Russian cyber aggression will backfire, as attributing events to specific threat actors requires a thorough investigation. Former NSA hacker Jake Williams notes that “telegraphing who we are and aren’t tracking cyber threats from doesn’t benefit the US in any way.”
Source: https://www.csoonline.com/article/3836775/us-cybercom-cisa-retreat-in-fight-against-russian-cyber-threats-reports-2.html