US government authorizes private contractors for cyber operations against criminal networks
Story essentials
Donald Trump, US Government
United States
August 12, 2026
This page is produced by collecting and structuring multiple public reports. Sections based only on reporting or testimony affect the displayed assessment, and the page is updated when new information is identified.
About this article
COMPAMIR Editorial Team
The COMPAMIR editorial team brings together public reporting and links to the original coverage. We update the page as new information emerges.
Read our editorial policy- Earlier version 18/13/2026, 5:22:22 PM
President Trump signed a memo allowing government agencies to contract private firms for cyber surveillance and disruption. Operations target cyber-enabled transnational criminal organizations (CE-TCOs). Participating companies must undergo vetting and maintain a $1 million bond.
Read next
Prioritized by shared people, places, and events.
President Trump secretly diverted from Air Force One following NATO summit due to security threat
President Trump secretly flew on an alternate aircraft after the NATO summit in Turkey. The move was prompted by a credible Iranian assassination threat. The President hid in a catering container to board the decoy plane, a move described as unprecedented.