Pentagon Orders Cyber Command to Stand Down on Russia Operations

The U.S. government has dramatically reversed its stance on Russian cyber threats, marking a stark departure from years of vigilance against Moscow's digital operations. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered U.S. Cyber Command to halt all planning against Russia, while other agencies have been quietly directed to stop tracking Russian cyber activities.

The stand-down order, delivered to Cyber Command chief Gen. Timothy Haugh, impacts offensive digital operations and broader planning efforts against Russia. This shift extends beyond military channels - the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has received new directives removing Russia from its priority threat list.

The timing is particularly striking. Microsoft recently discovered Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) targeting government employees across multiple countries. Meanwhile, the Russia-based LockBit ransomware group, previously labeled as the world's most prolific by U.S. authorities, continues its operations.

Speaking to The Guardian, James Lewis, a veteran cyber expert formerly of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, blasted the change: "It's incomprehensible to give a speech about threats in cyberspace and not mention Russia and it's delusional to think this will turn Russia and the FSB into our friends."

The implications are far-reaching. Cyber Command's stand-down affects its hunt-forward teams, which were deployed to Kyiv to strengthen Ukraine's digital defenses. The order could leave private sector entities more vulnerable to Russian state-linked and criminal ransomware actors.

Inside CISA, analysts have been verbally instructed to stop following Russian threats, despite this being a previous primary focus. A CISA insider told The Guardian: "Russia and China are our biggest adversaries. With all the cuts being made to different agencies, a lot of cyber security personnel have been fired. Our systems are not going to be protected and our adversaries know this."

The shift aligns with broader changes in U.S.-Russia relations. At the United Nations, the U.S. recently voted with Russia against an EU-Ukrainian resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In Washington, a planned meeting between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ended in an Oval Office confrontation.

This represents a dramatic departure from previous U.S. cyber strategy. Last year's intelligence threat assessment labeled Russia an "enduring global cyber threat" capable of targeting critical infrastructure and industrial control systems in the U.S. and allied countries.

Cyber Command itself is conducting a "risk assessment" for Secretary Hegseth, documenting halted operations and ongoing Russian threats. The command's ability to counter Mexican drug cartels - recently labeled as terrorist groups - may be hampered as resources are reallocated.

The Pentagon has remained tight-lipped about the changes. A senior Defense official stated, "Due to operational security concerns, we do not comment nor discuss cyber intelligence, plans, or operations."

Why this matters:

• The U.S. has effectively handed Russia a digital free pass, dismantling years of cyber defenses faster than you can say "password123"
• While America looks away, Russia's cyber capabilities remain unchanged - like leaving your front door open and hoping the neighborhood watch program you just disbanded will somehow keep you safe

Read on, my dear:

• The Record: Exclusive: Hegseth orders Cyber Command to stand down on Russia planning
• The Guardian: Trump administration retreats in fight against Russian cyber threats