Admiral Mike Rogers, who heads the National Security Administration, gave an overview of the 8-year-old U.S. Cyber Command—which he also leads—to members of the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday morning. He said the United States faces “capable adversaries” in the cyberworld. “Today, we face threats that have increased in sophistication, magnitude, intensity, volume, and velocity.”
But what isn’t being focused on, Rogers said, are disrupting Russian cyberattacks that target U.S. elections. Why not? Because President Trump has not given him specific instructions to do so. “I haven’t been granted any additional authorities,” he said. Morgan Chalfant reports:
While Rogers said he has not asked for additional authorities to stop Russian cyberattacks at the source, he noted that it would ultimately be up to President Trump to give him that permission.
“I need a policy decision that indicates there is specific direction to do that,” Rogers said. “The president ultimately would make this decision in accordance with a recommendation from the secretary of Defense.”
Last month, at a hearing of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats said:
"Frankly, the United States is under attack" [...] adding that Russia is attempting to "degrade our democratic values and weaken our alliances."
In unequivocal language, Coats said Russian President Vladimir Putin was emboldened by Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential elections and is targeting the midterms.
Committee members from both parties questioned Rogers about this lack of response. Rogers pushed back, rejecting the idea that the Trump regime has ignored the matter. But he conceded the Russians “haven’t paid a price” for their actions.
“Essentially, we have not taken on the Russians yet,” said Rep. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), the ranking member, who accused the administration of “essentially sitting back and waiting.”
Sitting back and waiting would be bad enough. One cannot help but ponder whether Trump’s inaction in the matter is more malignant than mere neglect.