Hegseth Directs Pentagon Cyber Command to Defend 2026 Elections From 'Foreign Actors'

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a Sept. 22, 2026 memo directing U.S. Cyber Command and the Pentagon's combat support agencies to prioritize intelligence and cyber capabilities to "track down, disrupt and neutralize" foreign interference in the 2026 midterm elections, according to multiple outlets that reviewed the memo when it became public nearly a week later. The memo directs the Defense Intelligence Enterprise to collect on foreign election threats "in accordance with law, regulation, Executive direction" and Department of War policies, framing the effort as protecting "democratic systems" from meddling.

The memo is notable both for what it targets -- foreign interference -- and for what it invites scrutiny of: any expansion of the military's domestic-facing role around an election, an area Congress and courts have historically treated with caution given restrictions on military involvement in domestic law enforcement and civic processes.

The memo has taken effect. No legal challenge or congressional response had been reported as of this writing.