The FBI on 9 September 2026 published its first-ever public cybersecurity strategy, a 17-page document with no classified annex detailing how the bureau will counter malicious hackers and criminal gangs. Assistant Director of the FBI Cyber Division Brett Leatherman said the strategy builds on the Trump administration's cybersecurity strategy, a recent executive order on countering digital criminals and fraud, and a memorandum allowing private industry to participate in disruptive online operations, and follows 50 "sequenced operations" since the start of 2025, including disruption of Russian military-intelligence router operations and the Lumma malware takedown with Microsoft.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | 2026-09-09 |
| Type | Public strategy / policy release |
| Scope | Four "pillars": impose costs on adversaries, victim support, industry collaboration, building digital capabilities |
| Source | The Record — Tier 2/4 |
Leatherman signalled a shift to a faster cadence of consequential operations rather than the half-dozen large operations annually, citing dips in ransomware payments as early evidence of impact. The strategy is relevant to allied Five Eyes law-enforcement engagement with the FBI's Cyber Division.