Unidentified drones were reportedly detected above Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, D.C., prompting heightened security measures and White House discussions over the past 10 days.
The incident involved Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who reside at the base. Officials confirmed that the drone sightings occurred on a single night within the last ten days and have led to increased security protocols across multiple U.S. military installations.
According to sources, officials briefly considered relocating both secretaries from Fort Lesley J. McNair, which also houses the National Defense University and senior Pentagon leadership. However, Rubio and Hegseth remain in place as of today.
Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell declined to comment on the drone sightings or the secretaries’ movements when questioned by reporters, stating: “The department cannot comment on the secretary’s movements for security reasons, and reporting on such movements is grossly irresponsible.”
Fort Lesley J. McNair, situated near Capitol Hill and the White House along the Anacostia River, has historically been a military base rather than a residence for political figures. The base has recently become home to several high-level officials.
The incident follows a surge in security concerns nationwide. Earlier this week, MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida—hosting U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM)—was placed under lockdown after a suspicious package was discovered. A second security incident at the base resulted in a shelter-in-place order for several hours.
Additionally, a leaked State Department cable instructed all U.S. diplomatic posts worldwide to conduct immediate security evaluations, citing potential spillover effects from ongoing developments in the Middle East. Reports of unidentified drones near high-profile locations have been recurring since 2020, following the U.S. operation that eliminated Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.
