America's Cyber Surrender

How the United States is Abandoning its Digital Defenses

Photo by Jørgen Håland on Unsplash

The Trump administration has ordered a halt to offensive cyber operations against Russia while simultaneously dismantling key components of the nation's cybersecurity infrastructure in a dramatic realignment of national security priorities. These moves come as Trump seeks to “reset” relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and says he wants to broker an end to the war in Ukraine.

According to exclusive reporting by The Record, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered U.S. Cyber Command to cease offensive cyber operations targeting Russia. Concurrently, staffers at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have reportedly been directed to shift focus away from Russian threats, marking a significant reversal in America's cyber defense posture.

These developments represent the latest in a series of actions that have troubled cybersecurity professionals both inside and outside government.

Since January, the administration has term…