Politico: Pentagon establishes secret arm for technological sabotage against adversaries

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22 (YPA) – Politico has revealed that the U.S. Department of Defense has secretly established a new elite agency called the Technology Support Office (TSO), specializing in developing tools for technological sabotage and penetrating foreign military systems.

According to the report, the agency was established last April under the leadership of Deputy Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg, through the merging of two covert intelligence programs that had been carrying out limited sabotage operations since 2023. It includes engineers, special operations personnel, and intelligence officers to develop hacking tools and deception operations to induce adversaries to use faulty components in their weapons.

A former intelligence official said its goal is to buy time and prevent adversaries from developing technologies that threaten the U.S. military, especially with the use of artificial intelligence and drones.

Although it does not have the authority to carry out direct covert operations, it works in coordination with military and intelligence leaders. Its secrecy has raised concerns about weak oversight, violations of international law, potential harm to civilians, and escalating tensions with China, amid disagreements within the Pentagon over its funding and powers.