Exclusive: Hegseth directs Defense Dept. to fight foreigners who "meddle" in U.S. elections

AxiosSeptember 28, 2026en

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has assigned personnel to use "advanced intelligence and cyber capabilities to identify, disrupt, and neutralize foreign interference" in the upcoming elections, Axios has learned. Why it matters: The threat of foreign election interference has been a biennial U.S. concern for the past decade. This effort will use the most advanced artificial intelligence capabilities to date, officials said. Hegseth's order does not direct military personnel to the polls, but President Trump has refused to rule out that possibility, heightening concern from Democrats and administration critics. Zoom in: Under a memo Hegseth authorized on Sept. 22 that has not been reported pre

This is a short summary published by AI Global Wire. The full article is owned and hosted by Axios — open it there to read it in full.