Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pauses US cyberoperations against Russia

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.

Why did the US pause cyber operations against Russia?

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.

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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.

How does this decision impact US cybersecurity?

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."

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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."

FILE - Pete Hegseth, US secretary of defense, during a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025.  (Photographer: Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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.

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"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.