Security around the White House was tightened on Wednesday after a shooting near one of Washington, D.C.’s busiest metro stations left members of the U.S. National Guard injured. The incident, which unfolded close to the Farragut Metro Station, triggered an immediate lockdown as authorities assessed the threat.
The shooting occurred amid heightened tensions surrounding President Donald Trump’s controversial deployment of National Guard troops to the capital. The move has sparked criticism from several state governors who accuse the administration of using military personnel to escalate political division.
Police confirmed that officers were at the scene and urged residents to avoid the area while investigations continued. Though the Metropolitan Police Department has not released official casualty figures, law enforcement sources told the Associated Press that two Guard members were shot. A separate account provided to the New York Times suggested only one officer was struck.
Details about the circumstances leading to the shooting remain unclear, with authorities yet to confirm whether the attack was targeted or random. Witness accounts were still being compiled as the lockdown remained in effect around key federal buildings.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration was closely monitoring what she described as a “tragic situation.” She also confirmed that President Trump had been fully briefed as updates came in from security agencies.
National Guard units have maintained a steady presence in Washington for months, part of Trump’s intensified campaign to curb violent crime in the city. Critics say the deployment has done little to ease tensions and may have contributed to rising confrontations between security personnel and local residents.
Officials expect further briefings from law enforcement as investigations into the incident expand, with national security agencies now involved due to the proximity to the White House.
