Hegseth orders cyber, intel agencies to prioritize election defense amid office cuts

Defense Secretary Hegseth has issued a directive ordering cyber and intelligence agencies to prioritize election defense, even as the administration has dismantled or reorganized offices that tracked foreign influence and reduced civilian election security support. The directive appears to reverse or counter the earlier reductions, but the scope and implementation remain unclear. This matters because it signals a potential policy shift in election security posture, with implications for foreign interference response.