Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has directed the Pentagon and national cybersecurity agencies to implement measures to defend U.S. elections from foreign interference, particularly focusing on the upcoming midterms and the 2026 elections. This move comes as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) unveil their election security plans, despite concerns from officials about delays and budget cuts impacting election integrity efforts. With national security and military cyber forces being mobilized, Hegseth emphasizes the need to counteract potential threats from foreign meddling. However, some election officials express skepticism regarding the timing of these initiatives, noting that new cybersecurity measures have arrived too late for effective implementation ahead of the midterms.