The U.S. Cyber Command is pausing its offensive operations against Russia. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the decision, which was confirmed Monday by a U.S. official speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive operations.

Conservatives rallied around Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after he fired back at a criticism from former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on social media.

Russia has intensified cyber operations against Ukraine and NATO countries, according to previous U.S. intelligence and private sector reports.

Multiple U.S. officials tell CBS News that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a directive to U.S. Cyber Command last month to pause planning against Russia, including provocative offensive cyber operations.

The defense secretary is said to have halted operations against Russia as part of a reset in ties between Washington and Moscow.

The Illinois Democrat countered Hegseth's curious refusal to name Russia as the aggressor in the Ukraine war with his own work as a former Fox News host.

The Pentagon on Tuesday denied reports that Pete Hegseth has ordered US Cyber Command to cease its cyberoffensive against Russia, the Hill reports. "TO BE CLEAR: @SecDef has neither canceled nor delayed any cyber operations directed against malicious Russian targets and there has been no stand-down order whatsoever from that priority,

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has halted offensive cyber operations against Russia, according to media reports. The Pentagon chief ordered U.S. Cyber Command to pause offensive operations last week,

The problem is not just the Pentagon halting offensive cyber operations against Russia. It's also the series of related steps in the same direction.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday dismissed as "garbage" accusations that Washington had taken a pro-Russia stance, saying President Donald Trump was pursuing a peaceful end to Russia's three-year-old invasion of Ukraine.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has paused offensive cyberoperations against Russia by US Cyber Command, a move that national security experts warn could weaken US cyber defenses.

Secretary of State Pete Hegseth chastised the media on Thursday. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE PETE HEGSETH: To the previous question from the Washington Post, the press is interested in narratives. Our president is interested in peace.