Hill warning: Don’t put cyber offense before defense

A House Homeland Security subcommittee hearing explored how the U.S. should balance offensive and defensive cyber operations, debating deterrence, escalation risks, and persistent gaps in federal defenses. Lawmakers and experts emphasized resourcing CISA, clarifying authorities, and enabling a hybrid public–private model where companies support government-led offensive actions with legal protections to address liability, retaliation, and regulatory concerns.