The Obama administration issued an executive order Thursday authorizing sanctions on individuals and organizations it believes are involved in alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election.

The White House sanctioned 9 entities and individuals, including 2 Russian intelligence agencies and 4 officers of its main intelligence agency. Obama in a statement said the measures were "in response to the Russian government's aggressive harassment of U.S. officials and cyber operations aimed at the U.S. election."

"All Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions. In October, my administration publicized our assessment that Russia took actions intended to interfere with the U.S. election process. These data theft and disclosure activities could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government," Obama said.

 

Obama added that "these actions are not the sum total of our response to Russia's aggressive activities."

The measures could also extend to cyber actions, though the U.S. wants to avoid an all-out cyber war, two U.S. officials previously told NBC.