The US Department of Defense has directed Cyber Command to cease all planned cyber operations targeting Russia, according to recent reports. The order came from newly appointed Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and was communicated last week by Marine Corps Major General Ryan Heritage to component commands.
The directive appears to cover all offensive cyber activities aimed at Russian targets that would be conducted by US Cyber Command's National Mission Teams and military branch components including the Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy. Operations under US European Command also fall under this order.
The National Security Agency (NSA), which historically managed US military cyber operations before Cyber Command gained autonomy in 2009, is not affected by this directive.
While the exact timeframe and full scope remain unclear, sources indicate this move aligns with broader White House efforts to improve relations with Moscow amid ongoing attempts to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
US Cyber Command, established in 2009, operates as one of 11 unified combatant commands within the US Armed Forces, coordinating cyber operations across the Department of Defense.
The timing of this order coincides with other major defense initiatives, including Secretary Hegseth's recent announcement regarding potential unilateral military action against drug cartels along the US-Mexico border, where nearly 2,000 troops are being deployed for support operations.
Defense officials have not publicly detailed the strategic reasoning behind suspending cyber operations against Russia at this time. The development marks a notable shift in US cyber defense posture toward one of its primary strategic competitors.