Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered U.S. Cyber Command and military intelligence agencies to assist in protecting election systems ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, following concerns over potential foreign interference.
In a September 22 memo, Hegseth directed the National Security Agency (NSA), Defense Intelligence Agency, and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency to prioritize intelligence and cyber capabilities to counter threats to voting infrastructure. The memo emphasized the need to ensure election integrity, stating that "in America, the people rule—and we must ensure that their voice remains sovereign, secure, and entirely undiluted."
Election systems designated as critical infrastructure in 2017 have long received federal cybersecurity support, including assistance from military cyber units. However, recent changes to civilian agencies tasked with election security have raised questions about preparedness.
Military Deployment and Civilian Agency Changes
The Pentagon’s announcement follows major reductions to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a civilian agency within the Department of Homeland Security created to protect critical infrastructure, including election systems. President Donald Trump significantly reduced CISA’s role in early 2025, leading to the dismissal of experts and dismantling of federal election cybersecurity capacity.
CISA released an election infrastructure security plan last week outlining potential threats and assistance it could provide to state and local officials. David Becker, a former U.S. Justice Department attorney and director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research, questioned the timing of the military’s involvement, stating: “If the administration was serious about assisting state and local election officials, they shouldn't have dismantled all of the federal government's election cybersecurity capacity and fired all their experts in early 2025.”
Scope of Military Involvement
Hegseth’s memo explicitly tasks Cyber Command and the Defense Intelligence Enterprise with executing collection and production on foreign threats to elections. The directive requires coordination with the Department of Homeland Security to counter cyber threats from foreign actors targeting U.S. voting systems.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed that the agencies would work with state and local election officials to ensure free and fair elections. The military’s role in election security is not unprecedented, as NSA and Cyber Command have historically assisted in monitoring election infrastructure and defending against hacking attempts.
Concerns Over Election Security
The announcement comes weeks before Election Day on November 3, with early voting already underway. Civil rights groups, election experts, and Democratic officials have expressed concerns over potential foreign interference, citing the shortened timeframe for implementing military cybersecurity measures.
Critics, including Becker, have described the military’s involvement as a last-minute response, suggesting it may be more symbolic than substantive. Others argue that the deployment reinforces existing safeguards, given the long-standing role of military cyber units in election protection.
Official Rationale and Policy Context
Hegseth’s memo frames the action as a necessary step to uphold election integrity, stating that secure voting is critical to sustaining democratic strength. The directive aligns with Trump’s prior emphasis on free and fair elections, with Hegseth quoting the former president in his memo: “Free and fair elections are the foundation of our republic.”
The Pentagon’s move reflects a broader effort to address foreign threats to U.S. democratic processes, though the timing and reliance on military resources have sparked debate over the adequacy of civilian-led election security measures.