Trump Memo Paves Way for U.S. Firms to Hack and Disrupt Foreign Crime Groups

The Hacker News

August 14, 2026 at 9:38 AM

Overview

A recent memo from President Donald Trump directs the National Coordination Center (NCC) to create a program allowing U.S. private companies to hack and disrupt foreign crime groups, specifically Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). This initiative aims to utilize the innovative capabilities of vetted U.S. firms to combat international crime. By enabling the private sector to engage in offensive cyber operations, the government hopes to enhance efforts against cybercrime that affects American businesses and individuals. This move raises questions about legal and ethical implications, as private entities will be authorized to conduct potentially aggressive cyber actions abroad. The program could reshape how the U.S. addresses cybersecurity threats from organized crime on a global scale.

Key Takeaways

Timeline: Newly disclosed

Original Article Summary

A new White House memo signed by U.S. President Donald Trump has instructed the National Coordination Center (NCC) to establish a program that would allow private sector companies to take advantage of their "innovative capabilities" to break into foreign Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) and disrupt them. "By partnering with vetted United States companies subject to the direction and

Impact

Not specified

Exploitation Status

The exploitation status is currently unknown. Monitor vendor advisories and security bulletins for updates.

Timeline

Newly disclosed

Remediation

Not specified

Additional Information

This threat intelligence is aggregated from trusted cybersecurity sources. For the most up-to-date information, technical details, and official vendor guidance, please refer to the original article linked below.

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