Experts press for large‑scale US offensive cyber operations at House hearing

The U.S. will be “hamstrung” until it fully integrates cyber and computer network matters into its military doctrine, the head of the McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure said.

High-profile Chinese intrusions into swaths of critical infrastructure across the nation have prompted cyber analysts and officials to call for a more offensive U.S. approach against foreign hackers. In a House Homeland cybersecurity hearing on Tuesday, experts largely aligned with that sentiment.

In the last year, offensive cyber operations have become a common talking point. At the start of 2026, a U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro involved an “expertise” that allowed cyber operators to shutter the lights in Caracas, President Donald Trump said at the time.

And a sweeping national cyber strategy, expected for release soon, includes a pillar focusing on offensive operations and leaning into partnerships with the private sector to aid ...