President Donald Trump recently signed a national security presidential memorandum that will give federal law enforcement cyber tools it can use to disrupt transnational criminal organizations (TCOs) that operate in foreign jurisdictions from attacking Americans.
The memo directs the Homeland Security Task Force’s National Coordination Center to create a program to conduct specific cyber operations that disrupt foreign TCOs, and to leverage the capability and innovation of the private sector to help conduct cyber operations under the direction, control and authority of the U.S. government.
Private sector companies that willingly participate in the program would be encouraged to enter into agreements with other private entities as well federal, state, local, tribal and territorial agencies to gather TCO threat information and propose actions to address the threats.
The program will have two executive directors from the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security. Its executive directors and the Homeland Security Council would create procedures for the review and conduct of the limited cyber operations.
Sophisticated TCOs based outside of the United States coordinate ransomware attacks, phishing campaigns, financial frauds, sextortion schemes and impersonation scams.
American consumers lost more than $20.8 billion to cyber-enabled crime in 2025. Seniors, children, and low-income families were disproportionately targeted. A total of 73 percent of Americans have experienced some kind of online scam or attack, and one in seven young people who experienced sextortion as a minor reported harming themselves in response to the abuse.
Two-thirds of U.S. adults say scams are a major threat and 98 percent believe scams pose a threat to individuals.
Last year, the United States saw a record year-over-year decline in violent crime and murder rates. In addition, a record number of FBI Most Wanted List criminals were captured. During the first six months of 2026, violent crimes fell, and murder rates are on track to set a new record low.