February 28th, 2025

Trump administration retreats in fight against Russian cyber threats

The Trump administration has shifted its view, no longer seeing Russia as a major cyber threat, focusing instead on China and Iran, raising concerns about increased U.S. vulnerability to Russian attacks.

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Trump administration retreats in fight against Russian cyber threats

The Trump administration has shifted its stance on Russia, no longer viewing it as a significant cyber threat to U.S. national security. This change marks a departure from previous intelligence assessments that consistently identified Russia as a major adversary in cyberspace. Recent statements from U.S. officials, including Liesyl Franz, deputy assistant secretary for international cybersecurity, have focused on threats from China and Iran, omitting any mention of Russia. This has raised concerns among cybersecurity experts who warn that the U.S. may become more vulnerable to Russian cyberattacks. Additionally, internal directives at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) have reportedly deprioritized monitoring Russian threats, which were previously a key focus. Analysts have expressed alarm over this policy shift, suggesting it reflects a broader warming of relations between the U.S. and Russia under Trump. The administration's recent actions, including voting with Russia against a resolution condemning its invasion of Ukraine, further illustrate this alignment. Experts argue that this change could undermine U.S. cybersecurity efforts and embolden Russian cyber operations, which have historically targeted U.S. infrastructure and interests.

- The Trump administration no longer views Russia as a significant cyber threat.

- Recent U.S. statements have focused on threats from China and Iran, omitting Russia.

- Internal directives at CISA have deprioritized monitoring Russian cyber threats.

- Experts warn that this shift could increase U.S. vulnerability to Russian cyberattacks.

- The administration's actions suggest a warming of relations with Russia.

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By @shakna - about 2 months
> A person familiar with the matter who spoke to the Guardian on the condition of anonymity said analysts at the agency [CISA] were verbally informed that they were not to follow or report on Russian threats, even though this had previously been a main focus for the agency.