Combating Cybercrime, Fraud, and Predatory Schemes Against American Citizens

3/6/2026

Executive Orders

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Action Summary

Purpose and Policy: Address cybercrime, fraud, and predatory schemes—including ransomware, phishing, sextortion, financial fraud, and impersonation—that drain American families of life savings and devastate vulnerable populations, often linked to transnational criminal organizations with potential foreign state support.
Coordinated Federal Response: Directs key departments (State, Treasury, War, Homeland Security, and Justice) and the National Cyber Director to:
- Review existing frameworks within 60 days to improve operational, technical, diplomatic, and regulatory measures against TCOs.
- Submit an action plan within 120 days outlining steps to detect, disrupt, investigate, and dismantle cyber-enabled criminal networks, including establishing an operational cell within the National Coordination Center (NCC).
Enhanced Cybersecurity Measures: Leverages technical capabilities, threat intelligence, and partnership with the private sector to improve attribution, tracking, and disruption of malicious cyber actors while strengthening SLTT partners’ defenses.
Victim Restoration Program: Mandates the Attorney General to recommend a program within 90 days that would utilize recovered or forfeited funds from TCOs to restore losses suffered by victims of cyber-enabled fraud.
International Engagement: Instructs the Secretary of State to work with foreign governments to enforce actions against TCOs, including potential sanctions, visa restrictions, trade penalties, and even expulsion of complicit foreign officials.
General Provisions: Ensures the order does not impede existing departmental authorities or budgetary processes, is subject to applicable law and available appropriations, and assigns publication costs to the Department of Homeland Security.

Risks & Considerations

The Executive Order on combating cybercrime and fraud underscores the increasing threats posed by Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs). This could lead to heightened scrutiny and regulatory measures that Vanderbilt University will need to navigate, especially concerning its digital infrastructure and data privacy protocols.
Vanderbilt may face risks related to compliance with new federal guidelines aimed at enhancing cybersecurity. Failure to adapt to these regulations could result in legal consequences or loss of federal funding, particularly for research programs that rely on secure data handling.
The focus on cybercrime and fraud mitigation may also place additional financial burdens on the university as it may need to invest in upgraded cybersecurity measures and staff training to protect sensitive information.
As a major recipient of federal research funding, any disruptions in funding due to compliance failures or investigations related to cybercrime could adversely affect ongoing projects and the university’s financial health.

Impacted Programs

Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) may need to implement stricter data protection measures to safeguard patient information and research data, particularly in the context of NIH funding and compliance with federal cybersecurity standards.
The Office of Information Technology will likely play a crucial role in reinforcing the university’s digital defenses against cyber threats, supporting compliance with the new Executive Order and ensuring the integrity of university systems.
Research Departments may face increased oversight and potential reevaluation of their data management practices to align with federal expectations, impacting research methodologies and timelines.
Vanderbilt’s Compliance Office will need to enhance its monitoring and reporting mechanisms to abide by the new regulatory requirements stemming from this Executive Order.

Financial Impact

The need for enhanced cybersecurity measures could lead to significant financial investments in technology and training, impacting the university’s overall budget and resource allocation.
Potential reductions in federal funding due to non-compliance or the diversion of funds toward cybersecurity initiatives could strain financial resources, particularly in research-dependent departments.
Increased collaboration with federal agencies to combat cybercrime may also open new avenues for funding, but these initiatives will require upfront investment and a strategic approach to secure long-term benefits.
As TCOs pose a growing threat, the university may face increased costs related to incident response and recovery efforts should any cyber incidents occur.

Relevance Score: 4 (The order presents a need for potential major changes or transformations of programs.)

Key Actions

Vanderbilt’s Cybersecurity Research Team should prioritize collaborations with federal agencies, particularly the Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Coordination Center, to contribute to the action plan aimed at combating cybercrime and ensuring robust cybersecurity measures are implemented across the university’s digital infrastructure.
The Office of Federal Relations needs to actively monitor and engage with the proposed federal policies related to cybersecurity funding and initiatives. This includes advocating for resources to support Vanderbilt’s ongoing cybersecurity research and infrastructure improvements, which are critical in light of the increasing threats from Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs).
Vanderbilt’s Legal and Compliance Office should review and potentially enhance the university’s policies regarding data protection and cybersecurity measures. This could involve implementing training programs for staff and students on recognizing and reporting cyber threats, aligning with the federal emphasis on public awareness and victim support.
Vanderbilt’s IT Department should develop a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy that aligns with the federal directives for information sharing and rapid response mechanisms. This strategy should include upgrading systems to detect and respond to potential cyber threats effectively.
The Office of Research should explore grant opportunities related to cybersecurity and fraud prevention, leveraging federal initiatives aimed at increasing funding for such areas. This can enhance Vanderbilt’s research capabilities and contribute to national efforts against cybercrime.

Opportunities

The executive order presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Cybersecurity Research Programs to become a leader in national discussions on combating cybercrime, potentially attracting partnerships and funding from federal and private sectors focused on enhancing cybersecurity measures.
By developing outreach programs and resources for students and the community on cybersecurity awareness, Vanderbilt can position itself as a proactive institution in promoting digital safety, which aligns with the federal goal of protecting vulnerable populations.
The emphasis on victim restoration programs offers Vanderbilt a chance to engage in advocacy and research that could influence policies aimed at supporting victims of cyber-enabled fraud, thus enhancing its role in public service and community engagement.
Collaborating with other institutions to address the challenges posed by TCOs can lead to innovative solutions and joint ventures, expanding Vanderbilt’s impact in the cybersecurity field and enhancing its academic reputation.
The university can utilize its expertise in data science and technology to support federal initiatives in tracking and dismantling cybercriminal networks, establishing research projects that contribute to national security efforts.

Relevance Score: 4 (The executive order necessitates major process changes to enhance cybersecurity measures and align with federal initiatives.)

Average Relevance Score: 3.8

Timeline for Implementation

60 days: The Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, Secretary of War, Attorney General, and Secretary of Homeland Security must review existing frameworks to combat TCOs engaged in cyber-enabled crime (Section 2(a)(i)).
90 days: The Attorney General is to submit a recommendation regarding the establishment of a Victims Restoration Program (Section 3).
120 days: An action plan identifying TCOs and proposing countermeasures is to be submitted to the President (Section 2(a)(ii)).

Relevance Score: 3

Impacted Government Organizations

Department of State: Charged with reviewing diplomatic frameworks and engaging internationally to demand enforcement actions and sanctions against nations that tolerate cyber-enabled predatory schemes.
Department of the Treasury: Responsible for reviewing and improving regulatory frameworks related to financial fraud and cybercrime, ensuring that economic penalties can be effectively enforced.
Department of War: Tasked (in coordination with other agencies) to contribute technical and operational capabilities in the review process for combating cyber-enabled criminal activities.
Department of Justice – Attorney General: Central in prioritizing prosecutorial efforts against cybercrime and fraud, formulating a Victim Restoration Program, and using legal mechanisms to prosecute serious offenses.
Department of Homeland Security: Instructed to partner with the National Coordination Center and the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to provide technical assistance, training, and resilience building for critical infrastructure and SLTT (State, local, Tribal, and territorial) partners.
Office of the National Cyber Director: Consulted to provide expertise and ensure that technical and operational aspects related to cybercrime are incorporated into the broader action plan.
National Coordination Center (NCC): Designated to host an operational cell coordinating efforts across Federal, private, and SLTT sectors to detect, disrupt, and deter cyber-enabled criminal activity.

Relevance Score: 3 (Six to ten Federal Agencies are directly impacted by this directive.)

Responsible Officials

Secretary of State – Responsible for reviewing frameworks related to cybercrime and spearheading international engagement to hold foreign regimes accountable for facilitating predatory schemes.
Secretary of the Treasury – Tasked with reviewing the operational, technical, diplomatic, and regulatory frameworks to combat TCO-related cybercrime and fraud.
Secretary of War – Involved in reviewing frameworks and supporting the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security in leveraging technical capabilities and threat intelligence against cyber-enabled criminal activities.
Attorney General – Charged with reviewing frameworks, prosecuting serious cyber-enabled fraud cases, and advancing the Victim Restoration Program by recommending measures to restore funds to victims.
Secretary of Homeland Security – Responsible for reviewing frameworks, partnering through the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) with the National Coordination Center, and enhancing defensive capacity for SLTT partners.
Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) – Acts under the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide technical assistance, training, and resilience building to support federal and SLTT cybersecurity efforts.
Office of the National Cyber Director – Consulted for its technical expertise to support the review and formulation of improved frameworks.
Assistant to the President and Homeland Security Advisor (APHSA) – Acts as a coordinator by receiving the action plan from the involved officials and facilitating its submission to the President.

Relevance Score: 5 (This directive affects multiple cabinet and agency heads, directly involving high-level officials in its execution.)