U.S. officials have detected unidentified drones flying over a Washington military installation that houses Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to three people briefed on the situation. Authorities have not yet determined the origin of the drones.
The sightings come amid heightened security concerns tied to escalating tensions in the Middle East. A senior administration official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters, told The Washington Post the military has intensified monitoring for potential threats as the United States and Israel conduct strikes against Iran. Multiple drones were observed over Fort Lesley J. McNair on a single night within the past 10 days, prompting additional security measures and a White House meeting to assess possible responses.
The incidents in Washington coincide with broader security actions both domestically and abroad. The U.S. government has issued a global alert to its diplomatic posts and increased security levels at several military bases. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey and MacDill Air Force Base in Florida have both raised their force protection level to Charlie, indicating that intelligence suggests a possible threat. The only higher level, Delta, is reserved for when an attack is imminent or has already occurred.
Officials also considered relocating Rubio and Hegseth following the drone activity, according to two of the people briefed. However, the senior administration official said both secretaries remain at their residences on the base, which were publicly identified by multiple news outlets in October.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell declined to provide details about the situation. “The department cannot comment on the secretary’s movements for security reasons, and reporting on such movements is grossly irresponsible,” he said.
Separately, MacDill Air Force Base—home to U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the Middle East—experienced multiple security incidents this week. The FBI is investigating a suspicious package that temporarily closed the base’s visitors center on Monday. On Wednesday, an unspecified incident prompted a shelter-in-place order that lasted several hours.
“To ensure the safety and security of our people and the mission, commanders adjust their installation’s security posture in accordance with local threat assessments,” an Air Force spokesperson said in a statement.
The State Department has also directed all U.S. diplomatic posts worldwide to immediately review their security protocols. The order, outlined in a cable reviewed by The Washington Post, cited “the ongoing and developing situation in the Middle East and the potential for spillover effects.”
Drones over U.S. military bases?
Why aren’t they being shot down?
Any such devices are a direct threat to U.S. personnel.