Last week, media reports reported that Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of Defense, had ordered the US Cyber Command to halt all plans against Russia, including offensive cyber operations.
Last week, media reports reported that Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of Defense, had ordered the US Cyber Command to halt all plans against Russia, including offensive cyber operations.
Pete Hegseth briefed Cyber Command chief Gen. Timothy Hoag on the matter, who then informed the organization’s former director of operations, Marine Corps Maj. Gen. Ryan Heritage, The Record reported, citing people who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
The new guidance is likely to apply to the Cyber Command, the unit responsible for planning and executing digital operations within U.S. European Command. But the order does not apply to the National Security Agency (NSA), which is also headed by Timothy Hoag, or its intelligence activities involving Russia, the sources said.
Also, based on the information received, Cyber Command is «assessing the risks» in a report to the US Secretary of Defense. The document lists current actions or missions that have been suspended as a result of his decision, and details what potential threats still emanate from Russia.
Analysts believe that a similar Hegseth order could have an impact on Ukraine, in particular, disrupting some of the command’s most prominent missions involving the US’s main digital adversary.
A senior Defense Department official, responding to claims of an order to halt planning operations against Russia, said that government officials do not comment or discuss cyber intelligence, plans or operations due to operational security concerns. «There is no higher priority for Secretary Hegseth than the security of the Warfighter across all operations, including the cyber domain,» he added.
