As the Trump Administration urges Russia to end its conflict in Ukraine, multiple U.S. national security agencies have reportedly paused a coordinated effort to counter Russian sabotage, disinformation, and cyberattacks, reducing pressure on Moscow. This development comes despite warnings from U.S. intelligence about Russia intensifying its covert operations against Western nations.
Last year, former President Joe Biden directed his national security team to establish working groups to monitor and address Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics. The initiative, led by the National Security Council (NSC), involved at least seven national security agencies collaborating with European allies to disrupt plots targeting both Europe and the United States, according to seven former officials who participated in the effort.
Before President Donald Trump took office, Biden’s team briefed the incoming administration on the initiative and urged them to continue monitoring Russia’s hybrid warfare campaign. However, since Trump’s inauguration on January 20, much of this work has stalled, according to eleven current and former officials who spoke anonymously due to the classified nature of the matter. Reuters is the first to report on the full scope of the Biden administration’s efforts and the subsequent pause in activities.
Regular meetings between the NSC and European national security officials have not been scheduled, and the NSC has stopped formally coordinating efforts across U.S. agencies, including the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and the State Department. It remains unclear whether President Trump has ordered a complete halt to the monitoring and countering of Russia’s campaign, or if agencies are making independent policy decisions.
Some officials involved in the working groups expressed concern that the Trump administration is deprioritizing the issue despite ongoing intelligence warnings. This shift follows the dismantling of other Russia-focused initiatives launched by the Biden administration. For instance, the FBI recently ended a program aimed at countering foreign interference in U.S. elections, including by Russia, and placed staff at the Department of Homeland Security on leave. The Department of Justice also disbanded a team tasked with seizing the assets of Russian oligarchs.
The White House has not informed career officials previously involved in the effort whether the cross-agency working groups will be reinstated. It is also unclear to what extent the U.S. continues to share intelligence related to Russia’s sabotage campaign with European allies. However, UK government officials confirmed that routine intelligence sharing between the U.S. and the UK remains ongoing.
When asked about the suspension of the coordinated efforts, the White House deferred to the NSC. Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for the NSC, stated that the council coordinates “with relevant agencies to assess and thwart threats posed to Americans.” He added, “President Trump has made it abundantly clear that any attack on the U.S. will be met with a disproportionate response.” A senior U.S. official at NATO confirmed that the U.S. continues to coordinate with allies on the issue but provided no further details. The CIA, FBI, and State Department declined to comment.
Anitta Hipper, EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said she had no specific information to share regarding the suspension of intelligence-sharing meetings but noted that the EU is coordinating with NATO to counter hybrid threats, which include sabotage, disinformation, and cyberattacks.
The pause in the cross-agency effort coincides with President Trump’s shift in U.S. policy toward Europe and Ukraine, raising concerns among some current and former officials that Ukraine may be pressured into a truce favorable to Russia. In recent weeks, Trump has made statements and policy moves perceived as favoring Russia, drawing criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans. However, Trump has argued that improved relations with Russia are in America’s strategic interest and that the conflict in Ukraine could escalate into a broader war.
On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to a proposal by Trump for a 30-day ceasefire targeting each other’s energy infrastructure, following a lengthy phone discussion between the two leaders.
Analysts warn that reducing efforts to counter Russia’s hybrid warfare tactics could be dangerous for the U.S. “We’re choosing to blind ourselves to potential acts of war against us,” said Kori Schake, director of foreign and defense policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, who has been critical of Trump’s engagement with Putin.
Over the past three years, Russia has recruited criminals in European countries for sabotage operations, including arson, attempted assassinations, and planting bombs on cargo aircraft. Russia has also used influence campaigns and cyber operations to undermine support for Ukraine, according to Western intelligence officials. While the number of sabotage acts declined at the end of 2024, officials warned that Moscow is likely to continue its hybrid warfare as long as Western support for Ukraine persists.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed Western accusations of Russian sabotage as “empty and ephemeral,” claiming they lack evidence. He suggested that the Trump administration is eliminating “everything ineffective, corrupt, and implausible,” which he described as “understandable.”
