U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has issued a directive ordering cyber and intelligence agencies to prioritize the defense of the upcoming election, according to reports from Defense One.
The order marks a significant shift in how national security resources are allocated, placing the protection of electoral processes at the forefront of military and intelligence operations.
This directive arrives at a time of heightened scrutiny regarding the administration’s approach to election security. Reports indicate that the current administration has dismantled or reorganized several offices previously tasked with tracking foreign influence on U.S. elections.
Additionally, there has been a noted reduction in civilian election security support during this period, creating a gap that the new defense directive appears intended to address through military and intelligence channels.
The move underscores the administration’s focus on leveraging national security apparatus to safeguard the integrity of the electoral process amidst ongoing concerns about external interference.
<small>Source: Defense One — read the original story there.</small>
