Russia May Face Economic Sanctions in Retaliation for Hacks

The Obama administration is considering a wide range of retaliation strategies against Russia, including the use of financial sanctions, in response to hacking intended to influence the 2016 elections. “The president, earlier this year, signed an executive order designating authority to the Secretary of the Treasury allowing the United States government to deploy economic sanctions against individuals or even countries that are involved in nefarious activities in cyberspace. So the president has taken steps to give his own administration more authorities to be considered as part of an effective and proportional response,” said White House Press Secretary John Earnest. The issue has been in the spotlight not only because of the election but also the potential for the creation of new rules for cyber defense policy.