The order is the first of several mandates already signed by Trump in his second term that explicitly focuses on cybersecurity. It amends parts of a Biden-era order signed in January before Trump’s return to the Oval Office, as well as a cornerstone Obama-era directive signed a decade ago that authorized the use of sanctions on individuals and firms engaged in malicious cyber activities.
The Obama order laid the groundwork for sanctioning policies that have been used by agencies including the State Department and Treasury Department to financially punish people involved in hacking activities that harm U.S. national security.
Trump’s Friday order “limits the application of cyber sanctions only to foreign malicious actors” and prevents “misuse against domestic political opponents and clarifying that sanctions do not apply to election-related activities,” according to an order fact sheet.
The provision reflects longstanding concerns from Trump and his allies that cyber and surveillance authorities were politicized to target his inner circle, particularly in the wake of election-related enforcement and disinformation crackdowns that some on the right viewed as tools to silence domestic political actors.
Trump’s cyber order strikes and amends various parts of Biden’s January cyber order, considered by many to be a kitchen-sink directive built on lessons le ..
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