U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has directed U.S. Cyber Command and several Pentagon intelligence agencies to prioritize efforts to identify and counter foreign attempts to interfere with the 2026 U.S. midterm elections. The directive, dated Sept. 22 and circulated Monday, was addressed to the heads of Cyber Command, the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. The Pentagon says the effort is intended to protect election systems from foreign cyber threats and other forms of interference.
Under the memorandum, the Defense Intelligence Enterprise is instructed to collect and analyze intelligence concerning foreign threats to U.S. elections within existing laws, regulations and executive directives. Hegseth also directed Cyber Command to coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security in responding to potential cyber threats targeting election infrastructure. The directive describes election protection as a “no-fail mission” and part of a broader government-wide effort.
Pentagon officials said the military agencies will work with federal, state and local election authorities. Cyber Command and the NSA already have missions involving foreign cyber actors and the protection of U.S. networks, and Cyber Command’s established responsibilities include countering foreign cyber threats that can affect democratic processes. The new directive places particular emphasis on applying those capabilities to threats surrounding the 2026 elections.
The memorandum calls for the use of authorized intelligence, cyber capabilities and partnerships to identify, disrupt and counter foreign interference. It also directs defense intelligence agencies to help protect election infrastructure from foreign intimidation, coercion and other forms of malign influence while operating within applicable legal authorities. Officials have not publicly identified a specific foreign operation that prompted the directive.
The order comes as U.S. agencies prepare for the November 2026 midterm elections amid continuing concerns about foreign cyber activity and influence operations. The Pentagon has emphasized coordination with other government agencies and election officials, while Cyber Command and the NSA say they routinely monitor and counter malicious activity originating from foreign actors. The directive does not itself change the legal framework governing U.S. elections, but it sets a specific priority for the Defense Department’s intelligence and cyber capabilities ahead of the midterms.
