Trump elevates US Cyber Command to a combat command on par with Central Command and others

Thomson Reuters

FILE PHOTO: An aerial view of the Pentagon building in Washington

President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he would elevate US Cyber Command to its own unified combatant command.

"I have directed that United States Cyber Command be elevated to the status of a Unified Combatant Command focused on cyberspace operations," Trump said in a White House press statement.

"This new Unified Combatant Command will strengthen our cyberspace operations and create more opportunities to improve our Nation's defense," the statement said. "The elevation of United States Cyber Command demonstrates our increased resolve against cyberspace threats and will help reassure our allies and partners and deter our adversaries."

This would be the US' 10th unified combatant command, which are combat branches that operate regionally, such as Pacific Command, or world-wide, such as Special Operations Command, often in support of regional commands.

Cybercom will "help streamline command and control of time-sensitive cyberspace operations by consolidating them under a single commander with authorities commensurate with the importance of such operations," the statement said.

Elevating Cyber Command will help secure funding for cyberspace operations, Trump said.

Trump also said that Defense Secretary James Mattis will study whether Cyber Command should split from the NSA altogether. But Mattis' recommendations will be "announced at a later date."

Two former senior US officials told Reuters on Thursday that it would be a 60-day study.