Defending Democracy in the Digital Age

A Call to Action

We are living in a time of unprecedented cyber vulnerability, and the recent moves by the Trump administration to deprioritize counter-cyber espionage efforts targeting Russia should set off alarms across the political spectrum. Whether you lean left, right, or somewhere in between, the reality is this: weakening our defenses against foreign cyber operations puts all of us at risk. This is not about partisan politics—it’s about the security of our elections, our economy, and the integrity of our democracy itself.

The Reality: What Just Happened and Why It Matters

On February 28, 2025, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the suspension of U.S. Cyber Command’s offensive cyber operations against Russia. While this decision does not impact other agencies like the CIA or Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), it marks a major shift away from what cyber experts have long identified as a critical front in national security.

This move comes alongside a broader pattern of deprioritizing Russia as a cyber threat, even though the evidence tells us otherwise. Russia has a documented history of meddling in U.S. elections, launching disinformation campaigns, and targeting our energy and financial infrastructure. Weakening our cyber defenses only makes their job easier.

The Threats We Now Face

The consequences of rolling back counter-cyber espionage efforts are not theoretical. They are real, and they will impact all of us. Here’s what’s at stake:

• Election Interference & Disinformation

  • Russia has long used cyber tools to manipulate U.S. elections, spreading disinformation, amplifying social division, and hacking sensitive political data. With fewer resources dedicated to countering these efforts, our electoral system is even more vulnerable.

  • Russian-linked channels have incited violence abroad, such as offering payments for attacks on UK mosques. That same playbook could be used to stir unrest in the U.S. ahead of elections.

• Attacks on Critical Infrastructure

  • Russian cyber actors have previously targeted power grids, pipelines, hospitals, and financial systems. Reducing our cyber defenses makes it more likely that future attacks will succeed, causing real-world harm.

• Economic Espionage

  • Intellectual property theft and financial system manipulation could increase without aggressive countermeasures. This impacts American businesses, workers, and consumers, not just political elites.

What We Can Do: A People-Powered Defense Against Cyber Threats

The federal government may be retreating from this fight, but that doesn’t mean we have to. There are concrete steps that ordinary people—regardless of party affiliation—can take to defend against cyber threats and protect our democracy.

1. Strengthen Cybersecurity at the Grassroots Level

• Organize community-based cyber literacy workshops to help people recognize phishing attacks, secure their devices, and use strong passwords.

• Advocate for state and local governments to invest in election security measures, including paper ballot backups and updated voting infrastructure.

2. Counter Disinformation Before It Spreads

• Join or support fact-checking networks like ProPublica, The Intercept, or Debunk.org to help expose and correct disinformation.

• Engage in social media literacy campaigns that teach people how to spot manipulated content and avoid spreading falsehoods.

3. Build and Support Alternative Media

• Support independent, nonprofit journalism that is not beholden to corporate or political influence.

• Support local and citizen-led reporting efforts that prioritize truth over sensationalism.

4. Advocate for Policy Change

• Demand that Congress reinstate strong cybersecurity policies that defend against foreign interference.

• Call for greater public oversight of tech companies, ensuring they take responsibility for the role their platforms play in amplifying disinformation.

5. Organize for Democracy Protection

• Form local election defense teams to monitor for voter suppression, cyber threats, and disinformation campaigns.

• Pressure elected officials—regardless of party—to take cyber threats seriously and reinstate counter-espionage efforts.

A Closing Thought: This Is About More Than Politics

The threat posed by cyber espionage, disinformation, and foreign interference isn’t a left-wing or right-wing issue. It’s an issue of security for all of us regardless of party. It’s about whether we want our democracy to be decided by us—the people—or by foreign adversaries exploiting our divisions.

We’ve seen what happens when cyber warfare is ignored—elections get manipulated, institutions get destabilized, and the people lose faith in democracy itself. But we are not powerless. Every one of us can play a role in securing our democratic systems, defending against disinformation, and ensuring that the truth is not drowned out by propaganda.

We don’t have to wait for a government that may not act. We can act now. Together.