Hegseth orders cyber, intelligence agencies to prioritize election defense

A September 22 memorandum from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed US Cyber Command and the defense intelligence enterprise to prioritize foreign threats to the 2026 elections. The order tasks NSA, DIA, NGA, and other organizations with collection and analysis, tells Cyber Command to counter foreign cyberattacks under existing authorities, and requires coordination with the Department of Homeland Security. It calls election defense a no-fail mission but names no particular adversary, provides no new appropriation, and sets no public implementation deadline. The memo also requires compliance with law and policy, an important constraint when military intelligence supports domestic election security.