The Pentagon is looking into installing an anti-drone laser system on a military base in Washington D.C. where Pete Hegseth and Marco Rubio live, according to a new report.
Four sources reportedly briefed on the matter told The New York Times that the powerful technology is being considered at Fort Lesley J. McNair base in Southwest Washington D.C., as the conflict with Iran continues to rage.
The Independent has contacted the Department of Defense for confirmation and comment on the reports.
It comes after a series of "unidentified" drones were spotted hovering over the McNair base earlier this month, prompting the White House to consider relocating Hegseth and Rubio, though neither man was ultimately moved.
While the military is closely monitoring potential threats to senior government figures amid the war in the Middle East, The Washington Post reported that the origin of the drones that had breached the airspace was unknown.
Multiple sightings have occurred within two weeks, officials said, prompting an immediate security review and a White House meeting on how to respond.
Placing lasers near to Fort McNair would make airspace regulation in and around the capital even more difficult, with the systems already causing dispute between the Federal Aviation Administration and the government.
Last month the airspace over El Paso, Texas, was briefly closed after border officials fired a laser at what it believed to be a Mexican cartel drone – but turned out to be a party balloon.
FAA activity in the D.C.-Metro area is also under high scrutiny already, following the midair collision of an Army helicopter and a passenger jet, which killed 67 people near Ronald Reagan National Airport last year.
The reported consideration of the lasers near McNair comes after several domestic bases raised their force‑protection levels to "Charlie,” a designation used when commanders have intelligence indicating a possible attack.
Joint Base McGuire‑Dix‑Lakehurst in New Jersey and MacDill Air Force Base in Florida – home to U.S. Central Command, which oversees operations against Iran – were both escalated to Charlie earlier this month.
The only higher designation than Charlie is "Delta", which means that an attack is imminent or has occurred.
Elsewhere, on March 9 a large number of “unauthorized drones” were seen flying over Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, home to long-range B-52 bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons, triggering a lockdown.
Barksdale is the second largest airfield in the U.S. Air Force and has a fleet of more than 40 B-52 bombers. It has a population of approximately 15,000, including active duty members, reservists, military families and civilian employees.
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