As US President Donald Trump strengthens ties with Russia, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the US Cyber Command to temporarily halt cyber and information warfare against Russia. According to reports, one current and one former official revealed that this decision is part of the administration’s effort to negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war.

Temporary Halt During US-Russia Talks

Pentagon officials confirmed that the pause is temporary and will last as long as negotiations between Washington and Moscow continue. While stopping such operations during diplomatic talks is not uncommon, experts argue that this move signals a major shift in US foreign policy. Moreover, Trump appears willing to distance the US from European allies and align with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine. Consequently, some experts warn that this could be a risky concession to one of America’s most aggressive cyber adversaries.

Experts Express Concern

James A. Lewis, a former diplomat in the Clinton administration and ex-UN cyber negotiator, told The Washington Post, "Russia continues to be among the top cyber threats to the United States. Turning off cyber operations to avoid blowing up the talks may be a prudent tactical step. However, if we take our foot off the gas pedal and they take advantage of it, we could put national security at risk."

Pentagon Declines to Comment

The Pentagon has not officially addressed the issue. A defense official stated, "There is no greater priority to Secretary Hegseth than the safety of the warfighter in all operations, including the cyber domain." Retired Lt. Gen. Charlie "Tuna" Moore, former deputy commander of US Cyber Command, explained that pausing operations during diplomatic talks is common. He said, "I have seen many times when we are in some type of negotiation with another nation, especially if it’s considered an adversary, that we stop operations, exercises, we even cancel speeches sometimes. It’s fairly common to pause anything that could potentially derail the talks."

Strategic Planning Continues Despite Pause

A former senior military official clarified that while offensive cyber operations have paused, planning for potential actions against Russian networks continues. "The reason you don’t stop espionage is you want to know if they’re lying to you," the former official said. "The reason you don’t stop planning is if the talks don’t work out, you want to have options you can use against them." The halt contradicts the US defense strategy of maintaining "persistent" engagement with cyber adversaries like Russia. Furthermore, a former senior defense official told The Washington Post, "You need to see if there are vulnerabilities you can exploit, whether you can get through their firewalls, whether you can get access to the targets." He further warned about the risks of stopping operations. "What’s the risk of stopping? You lose track of your adversary. If the pause is for days or weeks, it’s not so serious; if it’s for months or permanent — that’s serious."

Criticism from Lawmakers

Hegseth’s decision comes as the administration signals a stronger stance against cyber threats. However, Democratic Representative Bennie G. Thompson criticized the move, arguing that it weakens the US government’s ability to counter Russian cyber threats. He stated, "To capitulate now, as we appear to bail on our allies in Ukraine, is an inexplicable dereliction of duty that puts American critical infrastructure at risk."