Lawmakers across party lines report suspicious white‑powder mailings to district offices

On Friday, multiple Republican and Democratic lawmakers reported receiving suspicious packages containing an unknown white powder at their district offices across the United States.

The reports, including statements from Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D‑MO), Mike Rounds (R‑SD), Pete Ricketts (R‑NE), Tina Smith (D‑MN), Ted Cruz (R‑TX) and over 15 House members, highlight bipartisan alarm over potential threats to elected officials.

Federal authorities, including the FBI, U.S. Postal Inspection Service and Capitol Police, have opened investigations into the mailings. Officials said they are testing the substances and working to identify the senders.

"This afternoon, my Houston office received a suspicious piece of mail containing a white powder substance," Cruz wrote on X. "The FBI, Houston Police and Fire Department, and U.S. Capitol Police responded swiftly."

Sen. Susan Collins (R‑ME) also faced a similar incident, prompting an evacuation of her Portland office and a statement of thanks from her chief of staff for the rapid response by local police, fire, hazmat teams and the FBI.

Letters intercepted by Capitol Police featured a return address linked to the Democratic Socialists of America at 75 Maiden Lane, a location the group has not occupied since 2013. The DSA denied involvement.

At least 15 Democratic offices and 26 state election offices have been targeted, according to NBC News, adding to the earlier anthrax attacks of 2001 that led to multiple deaths and widespread decontamination efforts.

Lawmakers emphasized that the incidents occur as the nation prepares for the November midterm elections, urging law‑enforcement agencies to safeguard public officials and the electoral process.

The investigations remain ongoing, with authorities stating they will continue testing the substances and pursuing leads to determine who is responsible for the mailings.