Hegseth orders cyber, intelligence agencies to prioritize election defense
The directive calls for a whole-of-government defense against cyberattacks and influence operations as officials cite recurring foreign interference concerns.
- On Monday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth issued a memorandum directing U.S. Cyber Command and the Defense Intelligence Enterprise to mobilize assets defending 2026 election infrastructure from foreign interference.
- The order ties to President Trump's 2025 mandate on election integrity, aiming to ensure foreign actors do not "meddle in our democratic systems" amid long-standing concerns about interference.
- Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated the department will coordinate with federal and local partners to protect voting systems, clarifying the guidance targets foreign threats rather than domestic political activity.
- Sen. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., questioned Hegseth about potential troop deployment at polling places, which Hegseth dismissed as a "gotcha hypothetical," vowing he would not follow an illegal order.
- With the November midterms deciding control of Congress, implementation of this directive will be closely monitored by election officials and civil liberties groups to ensure compliance with legal regulations.
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Hegseth says national security, military cyber forces will guard US election systems during midterms – WTOP News
The U.S. National Security Agency and other military intelligence and cybersecurity forces will guard election systems during the November midterms, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Monday. Military cybersecurity experts have routinely helped monitor systems and deter potential hackers since election equipment was designated “ critical infrastructure ” in 2017. But Hegseth’s announcement comes after President...
U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegsett signed a directive to protect the upcoming US Congress interim elections in November against foreign threats, reporting to the Pentagon.
Hegseth memo lays out Pentagon plan to protect elections from foreign interference
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memo Monday laying out what he said is the Defense Department's plan to protect the 2026 midterm elections from "external manipulation and disruption from foreign actors."
Hegseth Directs Pentagon Cyber Forces to Counter Foreign Election Interference
WASHINGTON D.C (VINnews) — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has signed a memorandum directing the Pentagon to put U.S. Cyber Command, combat support agencies and the Defense Intelligence Enterprise on a higher footing against foreign attempts to interfere in the 2026 midterm elections, the department said Monday. Join our WhatsApp group Subscribe to our Daily […]
Pentagon Ordered to Fight Foreign Election Meddling
War Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the military's cyber and intelligence agencies to prioritize defending the November midterm elections against foreign interference, according to a Sept. 22 memo, Axios reported.
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