The Pentagon Wants to Hire Private Hackers for Offensive Cyber. Accountability Gets Blurry.
Language tucked into the Senate's 2027 defense bill would let the Pentagon hire outside cybersecurity firms to penetrate computer networks the military chooses. Contractors would work under US Cyber Command. The draft stops short of letting them destroy systems — for now — but it still puts profit-driven companies inside offensive cyber ops.
War powers already stretch when the executive can hit networks without a clear public debate. Handing the keys to private firms adds another layer: who answers when a contractor escalates, leaks, or hits the wrong target? Retaliation does not care whether the packet came from a uniform or an invoice.
Advocates want manpower. Opponents want accountability. A pilot through 2030 with reports to Congress is not the same as a public authorization for privatized digital warfare.
If the state can outsource the breach, it can outsource the blame.
Loading comments...