Secret Service closes Pennsylvania Avenue for suspicious package investigation

Secret Service police closed the stretch of Pennsylvania Avenue between 17th Street and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at about 2:40 p.m. on October 23, 2026, after receiving a report of a “suspitious item” near the historic building. The agency, working with the Metropolitan Police Department, evacuated nearby staff and rerouted traffic while a bomb squad examined the object. No injuries were reported and the road remained shut while the investigation continued.

The incident comes at a time when federal agencies have heightened alert levels for potential threats in the nation’s capital. In the past two years, there have been several high‑profile package scares, including a hoax bomb in 2024 that forced the evacuation of the West Wing and a series of mail threats targeting members of Congress. Those events prompted the Secret Service to expand its perimeter checks and to respond more quickly to any unexplained object near key government sites. The proximity of the item to the Eisenhower Building, which houses senior staff of the president, made the response swift and cautious.

Officials said the suspicious item was a small, hard‑shelled container wrapped in black plastic. A bomb‑defusal team from the U.S. Capitol Police arrived within minutes, placed the package in a controlled area and began a remote inspection. Early statements from the Secret Service indicated that the device showed no signs of an explosive charge, but the agency would not rule out a threat until a full forensic analysis is complete. The closure disrupted commuter traffic and forced a temporary reroute of diplomatic motorcades, but no further security measures were needed in the immediate area.

The Secret Service said investigators will interview witnesses and review surveillance footage to determine the origin of the package. If the item is deemed harmless, the road will reopen later today; if it is linked to a broader plot, federal prosecutors could pursue charges. The incident underscores the ongoing challenge of protecting the White House complex from improvised threats and highlights the agency’s readiness to act on any hint of danger.