Hegseth instructs Pentagon to defend 2026 elections from ‘foreign actors’

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth instructed the Pentagon last week to prioritize and deploy "advanced intelligence and cyber capabilities" to track down, disrupt and neutralize "foreign actors to protect the 2026 midterm elections" while "maintaining the fundamental freedoms that characterize our country."

"Commander U.S. Cyber Command and the Directors of the Combat Support Agencies will prioritize the use of DoW [Department of War] intelligence and cyber capabilities to ensure foreign actors do not meddle in our democratic systems," Hegseth said in a Sept. 22 memo , which was made public Monday.

The Pentagon chief directed the Defense Intelligence Enterprise to execute collection and production on foreign threats to U.S. elections in accordance with the "law, regulation, Executive direction and DoW policies and directives."

Hegseth instructed Gen. Joshua Rudd, head of U.S. Cyber Command, to use existing capabilities and authorities in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security to counter "potential cyber threats from foreign actors targeting our elections."

"Our Nation's ability to conduct free and fair elections is a steadfast principal of our Democracy," Hegseth said in the one-page memo. "Assuring and protecting this ability is a no-fail mission and the DoW will do its part in supporting this whole of government effort."

The meddling of foreign actors and nations has been a concern for U.S. administrations.

Similarly, in 2022, the National Security Agency (NSA) and U.S. Cyber Command under former President Biden highlighted a similar push to safeguard the 2022 midterms from foreign interference and influence.

Rudd told senators during a hearing in January that he would work on safeguarding U.S. elections and protect from foreign interference.

"U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency are closely partnered to identify and defend against cyber threats to our nation. The Command and the Agency regularly counter actions by malicious foreign cyber actors including those with the intent to interfere with our democratic process," Rudd said in a statement Monday.