President Trump has revoked an Obama-era policy that required government agencies to seek approval from various federal stakeholders before engaging in offensive cyber operations, The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.
He issued an executive order Wednesday to reverse the Presidential Policy Directive 20 as part of efforts to prevent foreign influence in U.S. election and address theft of intellectual property through cyberweapons.
Obama signed in 2012 the classified rule that succeeded a framework used during the George W. Bush administration, according to the report.
Michael Daniel, a former White House cybersecurity coordinator, told WSJ the directive was intended to ensure that the government considered “appropriate equities” prior to deployment of offensive measures against adversaries in the cyber domain.
The report added some officials have confirmed Trump’s move but they did not provide details.