In a report published by Reuters on March 19, it was revealed that various U.S. national security agencies have ceased their efforts to counter Russian sabotage, disinformation, and cyberattacks, thereby easing pressure on Moscow amidst calls from the Trump Administration for Russia to cease its conflict in Ukraine.
The former President, Joe Biden, had previously initiated working groups within his national security team to address the escalating shadow warfare conducted by Russia against Western nations. However, since President Trump assumed office on January 20, much of this collaborative work has been suspended, with regular meetings between the National Security Council and European counterparts put on hold. Coordination among U.S. agencies has also ceased, including with the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the State Department.
Concerns have been raised by officials involved in these initiatives that the Trump administration is deprioritizing the issue despite intelligence warnings, as evidenced by the halting of various Russia-focused projects launched by Biden's administration. The change in approach comes amid fears that the Trump administration's policy shifts towards Europe and Ukraine could disadvantage the latter, potentially leading to a peace agreement favorable to Russia.
Given the complexity of the situation, the U.S. government's stance and actions regarding the monitoring and combating of Russia's aggressive tactics continue to evolve. The White House and related U.S. agencies declined to comment to Reuters on the suspension of coordinated efforts, indicating a shift in the U.S. approach towards Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics and the potential implications of such a pivot.