US Halts Some Efforts Against Russian Sabotage as Trump Strengthens Ties with Putin
US National Security Agencies Halt Efforts to Counter Russian Sabotage as Trump Administration Reshapes Policy
Several US national security agencies have paused efforts to counter Russian sabotage, disinformation, and cyberattacks, easing pressure on Moscow as the Trump administration seeks to push Russia toward ending its war in Ukraine.
Former President Joe Biden had directed his national security team to establish working groups focused on monitoring and disrupting Russia’s hybrid warfare campaign, following warnings from US intelligence that Moscow was escalating covert operations against Western nations. Led by the National Security Council (NSC), the initiative involved at least seven national security agencies working alongside European allies to combat threats targeting the US and Europe, according to seven former officials involved in the effort.
Before President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Biden administration officials briefed his team on the importance of the initiative and urged them to continue monitoring Russia’s activities. However, since Trump took office on 20 January, much of the work has stalled, according to eleven current and former officials who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the classified nature of the discussions. Reuters, which first reported on the full scope of Biden’s initiative, found that multiple US agencies have since paused their involvement.
Meetings between the NSC and European security officials have not been scheduled, and formal coordination between US agencies—including the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and State Department—has stopped, sources said. It remains unclear whether the president has explicitly ordered a halt to these efforts or if agencies are making independent decisions regarding their focus and staffing.
Some officials involved in the initiative expressed concerns that the Trump administration is shifting priorities despite intelligence warnings. The move follows a broader rollback of Russia-focused projects initiated under Biden.
Last month, the FBI ended an effort to counter foreign interference in US elections, including from Russia, and placed staff working on the issue at the Department of Homeland Security on leave. The Department of Justice also disbanded a team responsible for seizing Russian oligarchs’ assets.
The White House has not provided guidance to career officials on whether it plans to reinstate the cross-agency working groups, according to current US officials.
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