📅 Date: September 28, 2026
🕐 Published: 8:15 PM ET
📍 Location: Washington, D.C.
📰 Source: CNN
🏷️ Topic: Election security, US Cyber Command and foreign interference
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the Pentagon to strengthen efforts to protect the 2026 midterm elections from foreign interference, ordering military cyber and intelligence agencies to work with other federal partners ahead of Election Day.
Under a memorandum signed by Hegseth, US Cyber Command and other combat-support agencies will deploy intelligence and cyber capabilities to identify, disrupt and counter foreign efforts targeting US democratic processes. The directive comes roughly five weeks before the November 3 midterm elections.
The Pentagon said the effort will focus on foreign cyber threats and influence operations that could target election infrastructure or undermine confidence in the voting process. US Cyber Command is expected to coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security and other federal, state and local partners.
Pentagon officials described the initiative as a “whole-of-government” effort to protect the election. The department said the military will not take over responsibilities traditionally handled by state and local election officials. Instead, military cyber and intelligence capabilities will support efforts to identify and respond to foreign threats.
Many of the activities outlined in Hegseth’s directive have been part of US election-security efforts for years. Military cybersecurity specialists have routinely assisted in monitoring and defending election systems since the Department of Homeland Security designated election infrastructure as critical infrastructure in 2017.
The announcement comes after the Trump administration significantly reduced the role of the civilian Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, which was created to help protect critical infrastructure including election systems. CISA released an election-security plan last week outlining potential threats and services available to election officials.
The Pentagon has also highlighted the importance of military participation in the November election as service members prepare to vote. Hegseth recently said an analysis of the 2024 election found roughly 300,000 military personnel were not registered to vote and encouraged service members and eligible family members to use the Federal Voting Assistance Program.
US officials have repeatedly warned that foreign governments and other actors may attempt to influence American elections through hacking, disinformation and other forms of interference. The new Pentagon directive places US Cyber Command and military intelligence agencies at the center of the federal response as the 2026 midterms approach.
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📅 Date: September 28, 2026
🕐 Published: 8:15 PM ET
📍 Location: Washington, D.C.
📰 Source: CNN
🏷️ Topic: Election security, US Cyber Command and foreign interference
