Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday that the National Security Agency and military cyber forces will protect November midterm elections, weeks after President Trump dismantled the civilian agency created specifically to safeguard voting infrastructure.
Military Steps In After Agency Elimination
Hegseth directed defense intelligence officials in a September 22 memo to mobilize resources defending election infrastructure from foreign threats. The announcement follows Trump’s elimination of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, the federal division established to protect election systems. While military cybersecurity experts have routinely monitored election systems since voting equipment became designated critical infrastructure in 2017, the timing raises concerns among election security advocates.
David Becker, former Justice Department attorney leading the Center for Election Innovation and Research, dismissed the effort as political theater. He questioned the administration’s commitment after firing election cybersecurity experts in early 2025, stating genuine assistance requires more than last-minute announcements with early voting already underway.
Controversy Surrounds Election Security Approach
The dismantled agency released an election security plan last week outlining potential threats and services available to election officials. Election experts, civil rights organizations, and Democratic officials remain vigilant for potential federal interference in voting procedures. Trump continues promoting unfounded fraud claims while attempting to modify established election processes. The Supreme Court recently blocked his effort to restrict mail voting but permitted use of federal databases for citizenship verification of voters.
What This Means
The shift from civilian to military oversight of election security represents a significant change in how the federal government protects voting systems. Critics argue the transition eliminates specialized expertise developed specifically for election infrastructure protection. Hegseth’s memo emphasizes ensuring lawful voters can cast ballots without foreign intimidation or coercion. However, the compressed timeline before November 3 elections, combined with the dismantling of dedicated civilian resources, leaves questions about the effectiveness of military cyber forces in replacing the eliminated agency’s specialized election security functions.