US officials detected unidentified drones above an army base in Washington where Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth live, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday (March 18, 2026), citing three people briefed on the situation.
Citing two of the people, the report stated that the officials have not determined where the drones came from. According to the report, the drones over Fort Lesley J. McNair prompted officials to weigh relocating Rubio and Hegseth.
It is key to note that Fort Lesley J. McNair is one of the oldest forts in the country; it has served as the headquarters of the US Army Washington Military District since 1966 and has been the main campus of the National Defense University since 1977, according to Britannica.
The Washington Post report further suggested that the potential threats are being monitored by the military more closely because of the heightened alert level as the United States and Israel strike Iran, according to a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters.
ALSO READ: Trump cautions Israel: ‘NO MORE ATTACKS’ in Iranian South Pars without US consent, denies US role in escalation
The official said that multiple drones were spotted over Fort Lesley J. McNair on a single night in the last 10 days, prompting increased security measures and a meeting at the White House to discuss how to respond.
No other media outlet had independently verified the report at the time of filing. The Pentagon and the US State Department have also not responded to the claims of drone sightings.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell declined to discuss the drones with the Washington Post. "The department cannot comment on the secretary’s (Hegseth's) movements for security reasons, and reporting on such movements is grossly irresponsible," he told the Post.
Citing two of the people, the report stated that the officials have not determined where the drones came from. According to the report, the drones over Fort Lesley J. McNair prompted officials to weigh relocating Rubio and Hegseth.
It is key to note that Fort Lesley J. McNair is one of the oldest forts in the country; it has served as the headquarters of the US Army Washington Military District since 1966 and has been the main campus of the National Defense University since 1977, according to Britannica.
The Washington Post report further suggested that the potential threats are being monitored by the military more closely because of the heightened alert level as the United States and Israel strike Iran, according to a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive security matters.
ALSO READ: Trump cautions Israel: ‘NO MORE ATTACKS’ in Iranian South Pars without US consent, denies US role in escalation
The official said that multiple drones were spotted over Fort Lesley J. McNair on a single night in the last 10 days, prompting increased security measures and a meeting at the White House to discuss how to respond.
No other media outlet had independently verified the report at the time of filing. The Pentagon and the US State Department have also not responded to the claims of drone sightings.
Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell declined to discuss the drones with the Washington Post. "The department cannot comment on the secretary’s (Hegseth's) movements for security reasons, and reporting on such movements is grossly irresponsible," he told the Post.
