Why was White House put under lockdown? Secret Service, MPD close grounds after security breach

WASHINGTON, DC: A suspicious package discovered just outside the White House complex on the afternoon of Sunday, July 27, prompted a rapid and coordinated security response by the Secret Service, DC Bomb Squad, and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

The incident, which caused road closures and a temporary lockdown near the Treasury Building, heightened alert levels in the nation’s capital.

The situation unfolded at approximately 2.30 pm, when a man was seen climbing the fence on the southeast side of the Treasury Building, adjacent to the White House. He reportedly dropped a bag on the sidewalk next to the building before being swiftly apprehended by Secret Service officers.

Officials later confirmed that the item was treated as a potential threat but ultimately cleared by bomb technicians.

Suspicious bag near fence line of Treasury Building triggers White House lockdown

Andrew Leyden, a freelancer for the Washington, DC, media known by the handle @PenguinSix, was one of the first to report the unfolding situation, posting images and updates from the scene.

Streets surrounding the Treasury Building and White House complex, including parts of 15th Street NW and Pennsylvania Avenue, were temporarily closed while emergency personnel evaluated the threat. Officials expected all closures to be lifted following the successful clearance of the scene.

Residents and tourists were urged to avoid the area and follow police guidance during the lockdown. Photos and video footage from the area showed bomb squad trucks and officers securing the perimeter.

The individual had dropped a bag near the fence line of the Treasury Building, prompting a response from the Metropolitan Police Department’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team.

The scene was declared safe after the suspicious package was cleared, with no injuries reported.

Official Secret Service statement confirms individual's arrest and charges

A Secret Service spokesperson informed several media outlets about the situation, saying, "At approximately 2.30 pm on Sunday, July 27, 2025, US Secret Service Uniformed Division officers immediately apprehend [sic] an individual who climbed a fence on the southeast side of the US Treasury Building. During the incident, the individual also dropped a bag on the sidewalk adjacent to the fence line. Out of an abundance of caution, the item was treated as suspicious."

They further added, "The Metropolitan Police Department's Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team responded and subsequently cleared the item, declaring the scene and complex safe. The individual was transported to a local hospital for a medical evaluation."

"All area closures have since been lifted. No Secret Service protectees were present at the White House complex at the time of the incident," they mentioned. "The subject will be facing criminal charges to include unlawful entry and fugitive from justice due to an outstanding warrant from another jurisdiction."

The White House grounds are protected by some of the most advanced security infrastructure in the world. These include a 13-foot anticlimb steel fence, infrared cameras, bulletproof windows capable of withstanding semi-automatic fire, and rooftop radar and surveillance systems.

Uniformed officers and plainclothes agents patrol the complex at all hours. Additional support from the MPD's EOD team supplements federal protection in the event of a perceived threat, such as Sunday’s incident.

While the incident turned out to be non-threatening, it follows a series of similar scares that have kept law enforcement on high alert.

Assassination attempts on Donald Trump still fresh in memory

The heightened alert comes amid ongoing concerns for political violence following two failed assassination attempts on President Donald Trump during his 2024 campaign.

On July 13, 2024, a rooftop shooter opened fire at Trump during a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, injuring him in the ear. He was quickly evacuated by the Secret Service. Trump famously emerged from the chaos, raising a bloodied fist and shouting “Fight, fight, fight,” as agents shielded him.

One bystander, Corey Camperatore, a former fire chief, was killed while protecting his family.

Three months later, in October 2024, Trump was targeted again at his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida. Secret Service agents spotted the barrel of an AK-47 emerging from the bushes.

Although the suspect taken into custody on Sunday, July 27, has no known link to political violence, officials emphasize that every threat near government buildings is treated with the utmost seriousness.

As the investigation continues, federal and local law enforcement agencies reaffirmed their commitment to keeping the capital secure.