House Minority Whip Steve Scalise Stephen (Steve) Joseph ScaliseHouse GOP slated to unveil agenda ahead of election House panel details 'serious' concerns around Florida, Georgia, Texas, Wisconsin elections Scalise hit with ethics complaint over doctored Barkan video MORE (R-La.) in an interview that aired Sunday responded to a report that the Defense Department is ramping up digital attacks on Russia by saying he is glad the Trump administration is getting aggressive on cybersecurity.

"I'm glad the administration has been taking aggressive actions," Scalise said in an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press, citing an executive order signed last year."

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The New York Times reported Saturday the White House was escalating digital attacks on Russia's electric power grid. Two administration officials told The Times that they did not believe President Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE was informed in detail about the move to put code that can be used to surveil or attack in the Russian grid.

The second-highest ranking House Republican did not give a direct answer on whether it is a mistake for intelligence officials to not brief President Trump fully on the actions. He instead noted that the White House has pushed back on the story.

"The President's taking aggressive action against Russia," he said. "The message is being sent right now: If the Russians try to take some actions against our elections, or any other country, we are already ready to go after them."

EXCLUSIVE: Scalise: "I'm glad that the administration has been taking aggressive actions" against Russian interference #MTP #IfItsSunday



"You got to take every step possible ... to make sure what happened in 2016 ... doesn't happen again." pic.twitter.com/vbbYR7Jijj — Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) June 16, 2019

Trump denied The Times' story Saturday on Twitter.