On Tuesday, February 17, 2026, an 18-year-old male was apprehended by Capitol Police after driving a car near the U.S. Congress and running several hundred meters towards the building with a loaded firearm. Capitol Police Chief Michael Sullivan stated that officers intervened, ordering the man to drop his weapon, which he complied with before being taken into custody. The individual, who is not from the local area, was arrested, and his motive remains unclear. Notably, neither the Senate nor the House of Representatives were in session during the incident, as it occurred outside of a scheduled session week.