How US Ransomware Policy Aims to Break Global Crime Networks

Ex-FBI Leader Cynthia Kaiser on Sanctions, Ecosystem Disruption, Stronger Policies Chris Riotta (@chrisriotta) • March 11, 2026

U.S. policy now targets ransomware gangs and online fraud rings as global criminal enterprises, rather than isolated attackers. This approach will expand resources and coordination across agencies, said Cynthia Kaiser, former FBI deputy cyber director and now senior vice president of Halcyon's Ransomware Research Center.

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Under a newly released policy, the White House hopes to disrupt the infrastructure, finances and leadership that enable large-scale cybercrime campaigns by also targeting money launderers, infrastructure brokers and malware developers, Kaiser said.

"To me, it's less effective criminal activity, and by that, I mean I don't think there's been a criminal law that was passed and then the criminals said, 'Oh, I'm not going to do that crime anymore,'" Kaiser said. "You ...