What has Trump done now?

[red750]

Donald Trump has signaled both publicly and privately that he no longer considers Russia a major cyber threat to US national security and critical infrastructure.

The shift, which starkly contradicts years of warnings from intelligence officials, has raised alarm among cybersecurity experts who fear that the United States is leaving itself exposed to Russian cyberattacks just as global tensions reach boiling point. 

On Sunday night, it was reported that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered US Cyber Command to cease all offensive cyberoperations against Russia.  

 

Critics warn the policy reversal appears to be driven by the administration's warming relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as Trump moves to realign U.S. foreign policy in a way that increasingly mirrors Moscow's interests.

 

'Russia and China are our biggest adversaries. With all the cuts being made to different agencies, a lot of cybersecurity personnel have been fired. Our systems are not going to be protected and our adversaries know this,' a person familiar with the shift told The Guardian. 

 

'People are saying Russia is winning. Putin is on the inside now,' they added.

According to a current official and two former officials briefed on the classified directive, the abrupt halt is reportedly part of a broader strategic effort to lure Putin into negotiations over Ukraine and reset relations with the US.

 

The decision marks a significant shift in the US cyber posture against an adversary known for its aggressive digital warfare, election interference, and relentless hacking campaigns. 

While some insiders argue the move is a necessary step in diplomacy, critics warn that it represents a dangerous retreat that could embolden Moscow to escalate its cyberattacks on the US and its allies.

 

'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 [the Russian security agency] into our friends,' James Lewis, a veteran cyber expert, told The Guardian. 

 

'They hate the US and are still mad about losing the cold war. Pretending otherwise won't change this.' 

 

Hegseth's directive, which is part of a broader reassessment of all U.S. military operations against Russia, has yet to be publicly explained. 

However, the timing of the order which was given before President Trump's Oval Office blowup with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky are apparently part of an effort to draw Russia into talks on the war.

 

The precise scope and duration of the directive by the Pentagon directive remains murky, particularly given the blurred lines between offensive and defensive cyberoperations. 

 

Traditionally, offensive cyber warfare involves actively disrupting enemy networks, planting malicious software, or launching cyber strikes on critical infrastructure.

Defensive cyberoperations, on the other hand, aim to thwart incoming cyber threats, though often they require maintaining covert access to enemy networks for intelligence gathering.

 

For the US, retaining access to Russia's digital infrastructure is crucial for monitoring Putin's war strategy and internal political calculations as he enters negotiations.

Without such cyber tools, the US could be left flying blind in diplomatic talks where deception and manipulation are second nature to the Kremlin.

 

Former officials acknowledge that it is common for civilian leaders to pause military operations during sensitive diplomatic negotiations to avoid derailing delicate discussions. 

 

However, for President Trump and Defense Secretary Hegseth, the decision to halt cyber operations against Russia is something of a gamble.

 

By unilaterally pulling back from the 'shadow war' in cyberspace, the administration is effectively betting that Putin will respond in kind - dialing down Russia's relentless cyber intrusions into U.S. networks, election interference, and digital sabotage across Europe.

 

Russia has consistently leveraged cyber warfare as a tool of statecraft, targeting American institutions, hospitals, infrastructure, and corporations with sophisticated ransomware and espionage operations. 

 

Intelligence officials have repeatedly warned that such attacks are not merely criminal acts but are sanctioned, or at the very least tolerated, by Russian intelligence agencies.

 

In a United Nations cybersecurity working group last week, Liesyl Franz, deputy assistant secretary for international cybersecurity at the State Department, outlined US concerns about cyber threats - but conspicuously failed to mention Russia.

Instead, her speech only singled out China and Iran, omitting any reference to Moscow’s history of cyber warfare, including its well-documented attacks on US infrastructure and ongoing cyber operations in Ukraine.

 

Even more striking, Franz did not mention LockBit, the Russia-based ransomware group the US government has previously identified as the world’s most prolific. 

 

The Treasury Department had previously warned that LockBit operates under a ransomware-as-a-service model, licensing its technology to criminals in exchange for a share of the profits. 

 

Yet now, as the U.S. faces an unprecedented rise in ransomware attacks, the administration is choosing to look the other way.

 

Until now, U.S Cyber Command has played a leading role in countering Russia's cyber aggression, often working in covert cooperation with Britain's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).

 

While Britain and Canada may continue cyber operations against Russian targets, the Pentagon's shift in focus could leave European allies exposed to unchecked Russian cyberattacks.

 

The decision to halt cyber operations comes amid broader concerns that the Trump administration is softening its stance toward Moscow. 

 

In a striking diplomatic break, last week the US voted against a United Nations resolution that described Russia as the aggressor in Ukraine, instead siding with Russia, North Korea, Iran, and Belarus.

 

This move alarmed US allies, who fear that Washington is inching toward appeasement at a time when Moscow remains committed to its military ambitions in Ukraine.

 

Even within the administration, tensions over the shift in strategy are evident.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged the urgency of bringing Russia to the negotiating table but dismissed concerns that the administration is being too lenient on Putin.

 

'You're not going to bring them to the table if you're calling them names, if you're being antagonistic,' Rubio said on ABC's This Week. 

 

'That's just the president's instincts from years and years and years of putting together deals as someone who's in business.'

 

Rubio was not directly questioned about the decision to halt cyber operations, but when pressed about why the US was easing pressure on Moscow, he bristled, insisting that the administration's goal is peace.

 

'If this was a Democrat that was doing this, everyone would be saying, well, he's on his way to the Nobel Peace Prize,' Rubio scoffed. 'This is absurd. We are trying to end a war.'

 

Not everyone is convinced that de-escalating cyber warfare is the right move.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer blasted the administration's decision, arguing that the Pentagon's retreat from offensive cyber operations effectively hands Putin a free pass.

 

'Russia continues to launch cyberoperations and ransomware attacks against critical American infrastructure, and the Trump administration is rewarding them by backing off,' Schumer warned. 'This is a critical strategic mistake.'

 

The concerns are shared by national security veterans who have spent years monitoring Russia's cyber playbook. 

 

Under the Biden administration, US intelligence agencies had warned that Russia's ultimate goal was to undermine US security, disrupt American infrastructure, and spread political chaos.

 

Those warnings led to the creation of specialized cyber task forces within the National Security Agency and Cyber Command, designed to counter Russian cyberattacks in real-time. 

 

But under Hegseth's new directive, the efforts seems likely to be scaled back leaving America more vulnerable.

[facthunter]

Putin can't wipe the Smile from his face. How often does a SUCKER like Trump Come your way and hand you the KEYS? Nev

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

6 minutes ago, facthunter said:

Most of the world HATES Western Nations

Yet hundreds of millions of people from all corners of the World flock to Western Nations and barge their way in. Why is that? It's very unlikely it would be from "hate"

[kgwilson]

50 minutes ago, Grumpy Old Nasho said:

Western leaders used to praise Stalin, and he was far worse than Putin. Has Putin initiated large scale purges, and stood by while millions of Russians starved to death?

That was only due to his hate of Hitler and the almost infinite supply of canon fodder to take a lot of heat from the western front. he was one of the big 3 but was never trusted by anyone. In the 1930s Stalins communist collective farming methods failed and so did the crops so he took most of the grain from Ukraine and starved the Ukranians. Over 5 million perished. Then he settled Russians in the eastern  parts of Ukraine after decimating the population so he could claim it as part of Russia as it had always been (not). That is one of the main reasons there are a lot of Russian speaking people in the Donbas and the eastern Oblasts. My wifes mother was born in Donetsk & spoke Russian but hated the Russians. Her grandparents were White Russians & were murdered by the Trotskyists during the 2017 revolution.

 

Putin doesn't care about his own people. Russia has lost anywhere between 100,000 & 800,000 killed or injured. No-one really knows because Putin will never allow the real numbers to become known for fear of a massive backlash which could see him fall out of a window.

[facthunter]

Thats because they are escaping from Oppression  and get social services. It doesn't mean they like Western People who colonised like there was No tomorrow. Britain's been at war with most of the World at some stage. The earlier NAVY consisted of PIRATES.

[facthunter]

 Russia Is expert at Using FALSE Flag Operations claiming   Russian Minorities are being repressed. I doubt there is any country previously occupied by Post WW2 Russia that would vote to go Back to that situation .Georgia is a place worth studying. Angela Merkel was East Germann and trusted Putin too much to the Later detriment of the combined Germany. SOME Older East Germans would prefer the older system but not with Putin Running it I would think. SHE meant well and was a person with Decency and could be trusted.  Nev

[red750]

[Jerry_Atrick]

It has words.. orangutans won't get it with words

[red750]

The orange arsehole has halted military support for Ukraine.

[Marty_d]

There's no end to his evil.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/03/trump-national-forest-executive-order

[old man emu]

He's sacked the weather bureau people. No storm warnings. No aviation weather. 

 

 

[red750]

America is doomed.

[Marty_d]

Something will give soon. Just hope that the boat corrects itself with limited casualties.

[Jerry_Atrick]

The question is what? 

 

Chump has suspended military aid to Ukraine: https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/trump-halts-all-us-military-aid-ukraine-white-house-official-says-2025-03-04/

 

Folks, if pollies aren't seriously questioning their alliance to the USA, then we are in for very disturbing times

 

Edited Tuesday at 05:57 AM by Jerry_Atrick

[Jerry_Atrick]

Chump acts like this funny AI vid: 

 

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

You're all getting paranoid. Act like adults that you're supposed to be.

Who is the rabid leftwing Labor supporter in here who spurs you on to denigrate Trump ad infinitum?

[Litespeed]

GON,

 

Anyone to the left of Attila the Hun can see it's a huge problem.

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

Albanese is on Trump's side now, he said he wants peace. So let's hope he refrains from sending any more millions to Ukraine, and spends that money domestically in OZ. I saw pot holes today that could swallow a mini minor, I had to weave all over the road to miss them, at the same time watching for oncoming traffic.

[red750]

Always thinking of yourself.

[Litespeed]

All the 'money' for aid to Ukraine is actually spent here in Oz to build the weapons we send.

 

That's Aussie jobs, taxes etc additionally we send old gear to them and build new ones to keep the production going. The vast majority of money stays local and Ukraine gets world class gear.

 

Do you really think the defence budget gets spent on roads?

 

Wake up

[Marty_d]

59 minutes ago, Grumpy Old Nasho said:

Albanese is on Trump's side now, he said he wants peace. So let's hope he refrains from sending any more millions to Ukraine, and spends that money domestically in OZ. I saw pot holes today that could swallow a mini minor, I had to weave all over the road to miss them, at the same time watching for oncoming traffic.

More bullshit. Albo is muzzled because if he said what he truly thought of the dickhead, word would get back to him and the thin-skinned idiot would slap tarriffs on Australia.

 

Like the WA premier said, Vance is a knob. Any pollie, apart from the crazies like Clive and Pauline, think that Trump is a raving lunatic.  I bet even Voldemort privately thinks that, but being the cynical prick that he is, he'll copy every stupid policy Trump comes up with to try and win the votes of the right wing's rabid rump, like yourself.

[Jerry_Atrick]

1 hour ago, Grumpy Old Nasho said:

You're all getting paranoid. Act like adults that you're supposed to be.

Who is the rabid leftwing Labor supporter in here who spurs you on to denigrate Trump ad infinitum?

When are you moving to the US now your orange saviour will be delivering milk and honey to the land of what apparently was the dark ages?

[Grumpy Old Nasho]

USAID was donating US$44million per week to the Taliban. Explain why that should continue?

[Marty_d]

Which conspiracy website did you read that in?

[rgmwa]

Probably here from the official source of misinformation, courtesy of Musk's minions: https://www.whitehouse.gov/articles/2025/02/at-usaid-waste-and-abuse-runs-deep/