Statement responding to the Trump administration’s new National Cybersecurity Strategy

This statement is in response to breaking news. Please contact pr@rstreet.org to speak with the scholars.

In response to the Trump administration debuting its new National Cybersecurity Strategy, Haiman Wong, a resident fellow with our technology and innovation program and a cybersecurity expert, released the following statement:

"The Trump administration’s National Cybersecurity Strategy outlines an ambitious vision for strengthening America’s cybersecurity and maintaining leadership in cyberspace. Through its six pillars, the strategy highlights several major priorities shaping today’s cyber landscape.

Three key takeaways stand out:

First, the strategy reflects a growing recognition that cyber-enabled threats are evolving rapidly and extending well beyond traditional hacking or malware. In today’s threat environment, the boundaries between cybercrime, cyberattacks, and other forms of digital prepositioning are increasingly blurred. Threat actors increasingly rely on overlapping tactics, techniques, and procedures when targeting American citizens, businesses, and critical infrastructure. Pillar 1 underscores the Trump administration’s commitment to ensuring that American citizens, companies, and allies are not left to confront these threats alone. Leveraging the capabilities of the federal government to impose meaningful costs on adversaries will be essential to strengthening deterrence in cyberspace — an objective long advocated by many cybersecurity practitioners and defenders.

Second, the strategy highlights the importance of modernization and technological leadership in cybersecurity. Pillars 3, 4, and 5 emphasize strengthening federal networks, securing critical infrastructure, and preparing for the next generation of cyber threats. The focus on emerging technologies such as post-quantum cryptography and the security of the AI technology stack reflects an understanding that cybersecurity policy must also prepare for technological shifts on the horizon rather than simply reacting to current threats. Maintaining leadership in these technologies will also be critical to strengthening both national security and economic competitiveness.

Third, the strategy emphasizes a pragmatic, risk-based approach to cybersecurity policy. Pillar 2’s focus on promoting common-sense regulation recognizes that expanding compliance requirements alone does not necessarily improve security outcomes. Instead, aligning regulatory frameworks and strengthening public-private coordination will allow defenders to focus their resources on the threats that matter most. At the same time, Pillar 6 underscores the importance of cultivating and sustaining a strong cyber workforce. Skilled personnel and operational expertise remain indispensable to securing complex systems and ensuring the long-term resilience of America’s digital infrastructure."