U.S. Cyber Command

A September 22 memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directs U.S. Cyber Command to combat foreign interference in the November election, according to an American Democracy Minute news report for October 1, 2026. The Defense Department has released the memo publicly. The directive puts the military's cyber forces at the center of election security efforts against overseas meddling.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says US Cyber Command will take on a role in protecting the upcoming midterm elections from cyber threats. The announcement, reported by U.S. News & World Report, raises questions about the scope of military involvement in what has traditionally been a civilian-led election security effort.