Hegseth's September directive reportedly made midterm election security a 'no-fail mission' for the defence intelligence enterprise, with no new authorities

Fox News reported on 2 November that Secretary of War Pete Hegseth issued a September directive calling election security a 'no-fail mission', ordering the defence intelligence enterprise including NSA, DIA and NGA to 'mobilize every authorized asset, capability, and partnership' against foreign election threats and directing US Cyber Command to counter foreign cyber activity under existing authorities in coordination with DHS. The directive grants no new authorities and creates no new organisation, and the department has not detailed implementation. The text is not public; the account rests on the network's summary.