The United States Secret Service and multiple federal law enforcement agencies responded Saturday evening to reports of possible gunfire near the White House in Washington, according to officials and multiple media reports.
The Secret Service confirmed it was “aware of reports of shots fired near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue NW” and said agents were working to verify information from personnel on the ground.
Several journalists reporting from the White House grounds said they heard multiple gunshots and were instructed by security personnel to immediately take cover inside the White House briefing room.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed in a public statement that federal agents were actively responding to the incident. “FBI is on the scene and supporting Secret Service responding to shots fired near White House grounds — we will update the public as we’re able,” Patel wrote on X.
As of Saturday night, authorities had not officially confirmed injuries or released detailed information about suspects. Some media outlets reported that an armed individual may have been neutralized near the White House perimeter, though officials have not publicly finalized those details.
The White House was briefly placed under heightened security conditions while officers investigated the reports. President Donald Trump was reportedly inside the White House at the time of the incident.
The situation remains under active investigation, and authorities are expected to release further updates.