Pentagon orders all spies to protect midterms

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has ordered the Pentagon's entire intelligence community to treat the November 3 midterm elections as a top priority. The directive, issued in September, labels the effort a 'no-fail mission' and requires every authorized asset to mobilize against foreign threats. This move expands the mission beyond traditional cyber operations to include military and geospatial intelligence agencies.

The order specifically targets the Defense Intelligence Agency and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, in addition to U.S. Cyber Command and the National Security Agency. Hegseth instructed these groups to collect and analyze intelligence on foreign actors attempting to interfere with the vote. The goal is to identify hackers or influence operations overseas and warn civilian partners of incoming threats.

This directive marks a shift from previous election cycles where the focus was narrower. In 2018, agencies formed a Russia Small Group that later became the Election Security Group. That structure combined NSA intelligence gathering with Cyber Command operations. General Paul Nakasone, who led those agencies until recently, described election security as an enduring, no-fail mission in 2022. He noted that military operations focus on understanding foreign adversaries and acting outside the United States.

General Joshua Rudd, the current head of Cyber Command and NSA, testified before lawmakers in April that foreign interference is reasonable to expect. He stated his command is postured and ready to support as required. However, he indicated uncertainty about whether the Election Security Group had been formally reconvened for this year's contest. Hegseth's new order clarifies the scope by addressing the directors of the Defense Intelligence Agency and National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency directly.

The Department of War declined to provide details on how the order is being implemented. U.S. Cyber Command also declined an interview request regarding its specific election security efforts. The Pentagon has not disclosed if the directive results in additional personnel, resources, or organizational changes. Officials state the mission reinforces existing responsibilities rather than creating new authorities.

Intelligence officials report no evidence that foreign adversaries have targeted voting machines, physical infrastructure, or vote counting. The military's role generally stops at the U.S. border. State and local officials run the elections, while the FBI and Department of Homeland Security handle domestic security. Cyber Command may take action against foreign infrastructure when authorized and in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.

U.S. intelligence agencies continue to track influence efforts from Russia, China, and Iran. CNN reported Sunday that Russia remains the most active threat. Lawmakers briefed on classified intelligence last month said Russia is using disinformation to target candidates and undermine public confidence. China's efforts are more narrowly focused on candidates viewed as hostile to Beijing.

Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, urged Americans to remain on high alert for foreign disinformation. He noted that artificial intelligence makes such campaigns easier to spread. Intelligence officials see nothing contradicting the assessment that voting systems are secure, but they continue to monitor foreign actors closely.

The stakes of these elections extend beyond the immediate outcome. Influencing voters or undermining confidence can shape U.S. policy and deepen divisions without altering a single ballot. The Pentagon's new directive ensures that the military's most sophisticated intelligence capabilities are dedicated to this overseas threat. The agencies are now preparing for Tuesday's vote with a unified front across the Defense Intelligence Enterprise.