Do Son 
The Trump administration intends to recalibrate its stance on offensive cyber operations, framing them as a legitimate and essential instrument of national power. This was articulated by Alexei Bulazel, Senior Chief Information Security Officer at the U.S. National Security Council, during his address at the RSA Conference. According to Bulazel, the forthcoming policy shift seeks to “destigmatize” digital offensives and expand the authority of those engaged in such operations.
He emphasized that this initiative does not endorse reckless aggression, but rather advocates for a proportional response to adversarial actions. In his view, a failure to retaliate only emboldens malicious actors to escalate their attacks. Deterrence, he argued, requires making it unequivocally clear that such behavior will not be tolerated.
Bulazel’s remarks marked one of the most candid articulations of U.S. cyber strategy since Donald Trump’s return to the presidency. Even during the transition period following the election, members of the incoming administration signaled a desire to adopt a more assertive posture—emphasizing punitive measures against hostile actors. Catalysts for this policy shift included sweeping cyber operations by China, targeting telecommunications firms and critical infrastructure.
Nonetheless, the administration has released few concrete details regarding the new doctrine. Attention has instead centered on other matters, such as proposed cuts to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the dismissal of General Timothy Ho—head of U.S. Cyber Command and the NSA—along with his deputy.
Bulazel, who previously served as Director of Cyber Policy at the National Security Council during Trump’s first term, once again advocated for robust deployment of offensive cyber capabilities. He contended that the United States possesses “tremendous talent and power,” yet these assets have long been “constrained by bureaucratic red tape.” The new approach, he asserted, aims to eliminate such constraints entirely.
He also criticized past administrations for excessive caution and declared that the present moment offers a chance to “rewrite the playbook” and craft a strategy in which offensive operations are no longer exceptions, but the standard.
As for defensive measures, Bulazel acknowledged that the White House cannot effect sweeping change with a mere handful of documents or executive orders. Nonetheless, updates are planned for the defensive front as well, especially in light of the challenges posed by artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.
He concluded with a succinct formula: “Modernize offense, modernize defense—these are the two paramount imperatives.”
