The Pentagon has pushed back against claims that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a suspension of cyber operations against Russia, Bloomberg reported on March 4, citing a senior defense official.
The denial follows an earlier report by The Record, which claimed that U.S. Cyber Command had been directed to pause offensive cyber and information operations against Moscow.
The timing of the alleged halt coincided with President Donald Trump’s push for peace talks with Russia, a move that some critics say favors the Kremlin’s interests.
Cybersecurity experts warned that if such a decision were made, it could undermine U.S. leverage in both cyber warfare and traditional military operations.
Russia has been one of the most aggressive cyber adversaries of the United States, engaging in cyberattacks on Ukraine, hacking civilian infrastructure in Europe, and interfering in foreign elections.
However, according to Bloomberg's Pentagon source, Hegseth has not suspended nor reversed cyber operations against Russia, contrary to earlier reports.
The U.S. Cyber Command, which oversees 135 specialized cyber warfare units, continues its offensive operations.
These cyber combat mission teams play a key role in disrupting Russian cyber activities and protecting U.S. interests.
