Is This Really a Covert Operation?

The plan to blow up Nord Stream one and two was suddenly downgraded from a covert operation, requiring that Congress be informed. Under the law, we don't have to tell Congress even though it's an act of war against the world's largest nuclear power. I believe that if it is, then this really rips the mask off the whole thing, and shows how aggressive the Biden administration is toward Russia. Maybe some reporter that has the connections that could really confirm this is going to decide that it's worthy of confirming.