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Hegseth Orders Pentagon to Deploy AI, Cyber Tools Against Foreign Meddling in US Midterms
- •Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth directed the Pentagon to enhance efforts against foreign interference in upcoming US midterms using intelligence, cyber, and AI capabilities.
- •The directive, outlined in a September 22 memo, focuses on prioritizing intelligence and cyber capabilities to identify foreign threats and involves the Defense Intelligence Enterprise and US Cyber Command.
- •US Cyber Command will collaborate with the Department of Homeland Security to counter potential cyberattacks, leveraging advanced artificial intelligence.
- •This initiative builds on a 2025 executive order by Trump and follows similar measures taken during the 2022 midterm elections under former President Joe Biden.
- •The new directive comes amidst proposed cuts to some election security programs by the Trump administration, though it does not authorize military personnel to seize voting machines.
Key Questions Answered
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo on September 22 directing the Pentagon to use its intelligence, cyber, and advanced artificial intelligence capabilities to detect and counter potential foreign interference in the upcoming US midterms. The directive focuses on identifying foreign threats through the Defense Intelligence Enterprise and having US Cyber Command work alongside the Department of Homeland Security.
No, the directive does not order US military personnel or the National Guard to be deployed at polling stations, nor does it authorize the military to seize voting machines.
The directive builds on a 2025 executive order issued by President Donald Trump titled "Preserving And Protecting The Integrity Of American Elections" and follows Trump's July speech accusing China of interfering in the 2020 election, as well as similar security measures taken during the 2022 midterms.
