Trump Orders Navy to Revert to Older Carrier Tech, Greenlights Overseas Hacking

President Donald Trump has authorized a significant expansion of U.S. cyber strategy by allowing vetted private American companies to conduct offensive hacking operations against foreign criminal organizations. A national security presidential memorandum, signed in mid-August 2026, directs the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security to create a program facilitating these "cyber surveillance" and "cyber effects" operations. The administration asserts this initiative will enhance the nation's ability to combat costly cybercrime schemes, such as ransomware and fraud, that originate beyond U.S. borders.

This new policy represents a notable shift, expanding the private sector's role into an area traditionally reserved for government intelligence and law enforcement agencies. While the operations are intended to target criminal syndicates and remain under U.S. government supervision, some cybersecurity experts have voiced concerns regarding potential legal challenges, ethical implications, and the risk of escalating cyber conflicts.

Despite the prompt's mention of orders to revert Navy aircraft carriers to older steam catapult technology, no information supporting this claim was found in the research conducted for August 2026 or surrounding periods. The gathered information exclusively pertains to the newly authorized overseas hacking program.