DHS: Russian Cyberthreats To Remain In CISA’s Purview

Monitoring Russian cybersecurity threats was confirmed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to be continuously conducted by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), with the DHS refuting separate reports from The Guardian and The Washington Post indicating that the agency deprioritized Russian threats and had its experts redirected to other nation-states, CyberScoop reports.

Tricia McLaughlin, a DHS spokesperson, said the Trump administration did not author the memo obtained by The Guardian that focused on Chinese threats and U.S. critical infrastructure defenses.

"CISA remains committed to addressing all cyber threats to U.S. critical infrastructure, including from Russia," said McLaughlin. "There has been no change in our posture or priority on this front."

This development comes amid the reported stand-down order for all cyber offensive operations aimed at Russia, a move criticized by cybersecurity experts and Democrat lawmakers.

"To capitulate now, as we appear to bail on our allies in Ukraine, is an inexplicable dereliction of duty that puts American critical infrastructure at risk," said Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), of the House Committee on Homeland Security.