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Hegseth Orders Pentagon to Boost Cyber Election Defense for 2026

By Drooid · Sep 29, 2026, 3:04 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Pentagon to prioritize intelligence and cyber capabilities for the 2026 midterm elections.
He directed General Joshua Rudd, head of U.S. Cyber Command, to counter foreign threats in a Sept. 22 memo.
Rudd was instructed to coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security using existing authorities.
Hegseth called safeguarding fair elections a “no-fail mission” for the Department of War.

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Story summary

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the Pentagon to prioritize intelligence and cyber capabilities for the 2026 midterm elections.
He directed General Joshua Rudd, head of U.S. Cyber Command, to counter foreign threats in a Sept. 22 memo.
Rudd was instructed to coordinate with the Department of Homeland Security using existing authorities.
Hegseth called safeguarding fair elections a “no-fail mission” for the Department of War.