The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Oct. 1, 2026
Written & Produced by:
September 30, 2026 11:55 amDATELINE — The Department of Defense has released a September 22nd memo from Secretary Pete Hegseth, directing the U.S. Cyber Command to combat foreign interference in the November election. Such protections were formerly conducted by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, gutted by the administration in 2025.
First reported by the Associated Press, Hegseth’s memo reads: “The Department of War (DoW) will effectively wield its capabilities to protect and uphold the reliability of America’s voting mechanisms against external manipulation and disruption from foreign actors, while maintaining the fundamental freedoms that characterize our country,” UNQUOTE.
The order also includes the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, and the National Geospacial Intelligence Agency. Until this year such cyber protections were the domain of CISA. Former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem eliminated an estimated 1,000 personnel from CISA, and reduced grants for hardening state cyber infrastructure. Recent reports suggest a Russian hacking group is already using fake media websites to spread disinformation about midterm candidates.
But there’s reason to be skeptical. At a meeting attended by a White House staffer earlier this year, reported by ProPublica, an activist-proposed presidential executive order promoted using such foreign interference to justify declaring a national emergency and nationalize control of the midterms.
We’ve linked the Hegseth memo at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources
U.S. Department of Defense – Countering Foreign Threats to 2026 Elections
Fed Agent – Iran Conflict Raises Cybersecurity Concerns as DHS Shutdown, CISA Turmoil Continue
Reveal – Russia Targeted Past US Elections. Will It Meddle in the Midterms?
U.S. Department of Justice – (2024) Justice Department Disrupts Covert Russian Government-Sponsored Foreign Malign Influence Operation Targeting Audiences in the United States and Elsewhere
Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – (July) Trump’s July 16th Election Security Speech Appears to Have Elements of Activist-Proposed National Emergency Order Which Surfaced in March
American Democracy Minute – (March) Meeting of 2020 Trump Election Operatives Considers 2026 Litigation Strategies and Declaring a National Emergency to Interfere with the Midterms
American Democracy Minute – (March) Since 2018, CISA Helped States Harden Elections From Foreign Interference by Iran and Others. In 2025 Its Workforce & Funding was Cut.
Groups Taking Action:
Center for Internet Security, IssueOne/Don’t Mess With US.org
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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