Trump nominee for NSA and Cyber Command pledges to shield U.S. elections

President Trump’s nominee to lead the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command, Lt. Gen. Joshua M. Rudd, told senators at a confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill that he would safeguard U.S. elections from foreign influence. Senators were told Mr. Trump has eroded federal cyberdefenses, especially for elections, and that the administration eliminated nearly all government fortifications to protect elections from cyberattacks last year.

General Rudd said he saw a role for the N.S.A. and Cyber Command in shielding elections, calling protection of the electoral process “a fundamental priority for the nation.” The nomination would fill a post vacated in April when Mr. Trump fired General Timothy D. Haugh; no reason was given for that dismissal, though the hearing noted a far-right activist had urged Mr.

Trump to remove him. In the Armed Services Committee hearing, General Rudd and Lt. Gen. Francis L. Donovan were described as laconic. Senator Roger Wicker criticized their terse answers, saying it would be helpful for them to explain how they feel about the responsibilities ahead.

Rudd repeatedly skirted questions about whether the country should pursue an aggressive cyberdeterrence policy, saying the decision to launch cyberattacks was "not necessarily that of U.S.

Key Topics

Politics, Joshua M. Rudd, National Security Agency, U.s. Cyber Command, U.s. Elections, Timothy D. Haugh