New bill proposes government-wide processes to attribute, sanction hackers

Rep. August Pfluger’s proposed 2025 Cyber Deterrence and Response Act would direct the National Cyber Director and major federal agencies (DHS, DOJ, State, and others) to create a uniform national attribution framework for designating foreign cyber actors, leveraging private-sector and international collaboration, while authorizing strong reprisals (asset blocking, financial restrictions, export controls, procurement bans, visa bans, and aid suspension) to deter nation-state hackers and cybercrime groups—reflecting a broader push for a more offensive U.S. cybersecurity strategy focused on imposing costs and consequences.