US Lawmakers and International Leaders Express Concern Over Trump’s Decision to Halt Cyber Operations Against Russia
Last week, a report by The Record revealed that Donald Trump’s new Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, had made the unexpected decision to pause all of the U.S. Cyber Command’s offensive cyber operations against Russia. This sudden shift in the U.S.’s posture towards its geopolitical foe has sparked widespread criticism and confusion among lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle.
Mike Turner (R-Ohio), the senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, seemed taken aback when asked about the decision on Face the Nation on Sunday. “I’m unaware of that. I don’t believe—there are too many, I’m certain, considerations there for that to be an accurate statement so blanket,” Turner said. However, when pressed further by host Margaret Brennan, Turner expressed his skepticism, stating that considering Russia’s current actions against the United States, he couldn’t see the decision being accurate.
Other news outlets, including CNN, have since confirmed the reports with government sources, although no one has gone on the record to publicly confirm the decision. Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Florida) also appeared to be caught off guard when asked about the decision on Fox News, stating, “I’m sorry, who’s doing that? I don’t know why he’s doing that… The Russians are attacking us every single day, the Chinese are attacking us every single day; I don’t think you signal to the Russians that, hey, we’re gonna unilaterally withdraw from this space.”
BREAKING: GOP Rep. Carlos Gimenez is stunned live on Fox about the Trump admin stopping all offensive cyber against Russia. “I don’t know why he’s doing that” — adding that they are still constantly attacking us. Unreal. pic.twitter.com/gkJsQaf9yt
— Really American 🇺🇸 (@ReallyAmerican1) March 3, 2025
Other Democratic leaders, including Senator Mark Kelly (D-Arizona) and former UN Ambassador Susan Rice, have also expressed their concern and criticism of the decision. “The Russians use cyber warfare against us all the time,” said Senator Kelly. “Why would we stand down from planning offensive operations, as has been reported here? Capitulation to Russia is stupid but worse than that it is dangerous.” Ambassador Rice wrote, “This is insane. UNILATERAL DISARMAMENT while Russia continues constant offensive cyber attacks on USA. Appeasement of Putin seems to have no bounds.”
International leaders have also expressed confusion and concern over the policy shift. French Foreign Affairs Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stated, “I have a bit of trouble understanding” America’s new posture towards Russia, noting that EU countries are “constantly the targets” of cyberattacks by Russia. Hillary Clinton shared news of the stand-down order on X, summing up the situation: “Wouldn’t want to hurt Putin’s feelings.”
