The President has issued an executive order directing federal agencies to intensify efforts against cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes that target American citizens. The order highlights the increasing impact of ransomware, phishing, financial fraud, sextortion, and other cyber-enabled crimes often orchestrated by transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), sometimes with support from foreign governments.
"It is the policy of the United States to protect Americans from, and harden our financial and digital systems against, these threats. The United States shall counter attacks on Americans with a commensurate response that includes law enforcement, diplomacy, and potential offensive actions. It is further the policy of the United States to provide support to victims of these crimes, expand public alerts, and prioritize protection for those most at risk to end the exploitation and victimization of Americans," the order states.
Federal departments including State, Treasury, War, Justice, and Homeland Security are tasked with reviewing current frameworks for combating TCOs involved in cybercrime within 60 days. They must then submit an action plan within 120 days that identifies responsible organizations and proposes strategies for prevention, disruption, investigation, and dismantling of these groups. This plan will include creating an operational cell within the National Coordination Center (NCC) to coordinate federal responses to cyber-enabled criminal activity targeting U.S. individuals or infrastructure.
According to the directive: "The action plan shall describe how...the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security...shall use relevant technical capabilities, threat intelligence, and operational insights from commercial cybersecurity firms and other non-Federal entities...to enhance attribution, tracking, and disruption of malicious cyber actors."
The Attorney General is instructed to continue prioritizing prosecution of individuals involved in cyber-enabled fraud schemes such as scam centers and sextortion operations. Additionally, Homeland Security will partner with state and local authorities to improve defensive capacity through training and information sharing.
Within 90 days, recommendations are required for establishing a Victims Restoration Program aimed at returning assets seized from TCOs back to victims where permitted by law.
Internationally, the Secretary of State will seek greater cooperation from foreign governments in taking action against TCOs operating within their borders. Nations failing to act may face measures such as limits on assistance or sanctions.
"This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations," it specifies.
The Department of Homeland Security will cover publication costs related to this order.
DONALD J. TRUMP
