Trump Greenlights U.S. Companies for Cyberattacks Against Hackers

The Trump administration is reportedly encouraging U.S. companies to engage in offensive cyber operations against hackers, a significant departure from decades of U.S. cybersecurity policy. According to officials familiar with the matter, a national security memorandum signed by President Donald Trump authorizes select companies to work with the Justice and Homeland Security departments. Their mission: to target foreign cybercriminal groups through offensive cyberattacks.

This move brings the United States closer to the practices of countries like China and Russia, where intelligence agencies have long utilized private sector hackers for national security objectives. Such operations could enable the surveillance of criminal networks and the execution of specific actions designed to disrupt, manipulate, or destroy information systems and networks. The initiative marks a stark reversal from previous administrations, both Republican and Democratic, which prioritized strengthening corporate defenses and largely confined offensive cyber actions to military and intelligence agencies.

Industry experts express concern about the potential for a "cyber wild west" scenario. However, the memorandum includes safeguards. Participating companies must undergo a selection process, sign government contracts with penalties up to $1 million for violations, and receive authorization from the Justice and Homeland Security departments before initiating any attack. Crucially, the policy explicitly prohibits attacks that could foreseeably cause loss of life, severe injury, or constitute an "armed attack" under international law.