White House is reportedly close to announcing punishment for Russia's alleged election meddling

The Obama administration will soon announce how it plans to punish Russia for interfering in the U.S. election.

That's according to a new report by the Washington Post on Tuesday, which claims that the White House is considering everything from economic sanctions to prohibiting Russian diplomats from entering or remaining in the U.S. The newspaper reported that the administration is even looking at possible covert operations, such as cyber retaliation.

An executive order issued last year already gives the president the authority to respond to cyberattacks conducted by foreign entities, but the order currently does not include overseas interference in the U.S. electoral system. But the administration's new effort seeks to include that by recognizing the electoral system as part of the nation's critical infrastructure, putting it on the same level as the national power grid.

President Barack Obama just days ago vowed to "take action" against Russia for its alleged meddling in the election. Two months earlier, White House press secretary Josh Earnest had told reporters at a campaign stop in North Carolina that the U.S. was considering a "proportional" response to Russia.

"The president has talked before about the significant capabilities that the U.S. government has to both defend our systems in the United States but also carry out offensive operations in other countries,” Earnest said in October, the New York Times reported. “There are a range of responses that are available to the president, and he will consider a response that is proportional."

Russia, for its part, has denied having interfered in the election. It's not clear whether the punishments currently under consideration would target the Russian government itself or specific people within the Russian government.

The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TheBlaze on Wednesday.