
Pentagon Memo Directs Cyber Command to Counter Foreign Election Interference Ahead of Midterms
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo on September 22 directing U.S. Cyber Command and combat support agencies to use advanced intelligence and cyber capabilities to identify and neutralize foreign interference in the 2026 midterm elections. The directive, released five weeks before the vote, mandates coordination with the Department of Homeland Security to protect election infrastructure. While officials describe this as a standard defensive measure, critics note the timing follows significant downsizing of intelligence centers and questions regarding past foreign meddling assessments.






