The Obama administration is preparing retaliatory actions against Russia for its alleged involvement in cyber-attacks on Democratic Party institutions in order to interfere in the presidential election, two senior U.S. officials confirmed to NBC News.
As early as Thursday or Friday, a 2015 Obama executive order will be updated to announce the retaliatory steps, the officials said.
The announced steps will likely include economic sanctions coordinated by the Treasury Department.
Unannounced steps will be covert and will involve cyber option — although the U.S. has been very careful to try to avoid engaging Russia in an all-out cyber war, the officials said.
