The Trump admin will start letting private firms launch international cyberattacks

August 13, 2026 Emma Roth

A matrix of green binary code flows down in the background of a laptop computer with a green-hued image of the US Capitol building

The Trump administration is launching a new program that will allow private firms to perform cyberattacks against foreign criminals, as reported earlier by Bloomberg. The private firms would operate "under the control and oversight" of the federal government, giving them permission to surveil and disrupt criminal networks, according to a presidential memorandum published on Wednesday.

The Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security will oversee the private firms, which must meet requirements in "technical proficiency, proven performance of cyber operations, facility security," and more. Companies in the program must hold a bon …

Read the full story at The Verge.

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