On Wednesday, August 12, 2026, President Donald Trump signed a national security presidential memorandum aimed at empowering federal law enforcement agencies to use cyber tools against transnational criminal organizations operating in foreign jurisdictions that attack Americans.
The White House stated the memo directs the administration to "leverage the capability and innovation of the private sector to help conduct these cyber operations under the direction, control, and authority of the U.S. Government."
The memo establishes a framework encouraging private sector companies to enter agreements with other private entities and federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial agencies to gather threat information on these criminal organizations and propose cyber operations to counter them.
Specifically, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the Homeland Security Task Force's National Coordination Center, is tasked with creating a program to "conduct specific cyber operations that disrupt foreign transnational criminal organizations (TCOs)," overseen jointly by DHS and the Department of Justice.
Participating companies, once vetted, will conduct "cyber surveillance operations" and "cyber effects operations" against specified targets. The memo defines "cyber effects" as including the potential manipulation, disruption, denial, degradation, or destruction of information systems, networks, and related infrastructure.
Companies involved must maintain a bond or escrow of at least $1 million.
While private sector participation in cyber operations is not new, it has been controversial due to concerns about escalation, unintended consequences, and coordination challenges among agencies.
Requests for further details from DHS and the White House were not immediately answered.
Loading comments.