Multiple people at Joint Base Andrews fall ill after suspicious package delivered with white powder, sources say – CNN

Lead: On Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025, a suspicious envelope containing an unknown white powder was opened at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, prompting an evacuation and medical treatment for multiple people, officials and sources said. The incident occurred in a space that houses the Air National Guard Readiness Center and led to several people being taken to the on-base Malcolm Grove Medical Center. Base first responders and a HAZMAT team evaluated the scene and then handed the case to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI). An investigation into the substance and the contents of the package, which included political material, remains ongoing.

Key Takeaways

• Incident date: Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025; location: Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, near Washington, D.C.
• Several people were transported to Malcolm Grove Medical Center after opening an envelope that contained an unknown white powder, according to two sources familiar with the investigation.
• Joint Base Andrews first responders established a cordon, evacuated the building and linked structure, and turned the scene over to the Office of Special Investigations for follow-up.
• A HAZMAT initial field test reportedly did not detect an immediately hazardous substance; the team departed the scene Thursday evening, per sources.
• The room where the envelope was opened—within the Air National Guard Readiness Center—remains closed while investigators continue processing the scene.
• Investigators are also examining political propaganda that was included with the package to assess motive and context.
• President Donald Trump had been at Joint Base Andrews the previous day, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025; investigators have not publicly linked that visit to the package.

Background

Joint Base Andrews is a large military installation outside Washington, D.C., used routinely for the arrival and departure of senior government officials, including the president and cabinet members. The base houses multiple commands and support units; among them, the Air National Guard Readiness Center serves as a liaison between the National Guard Bureau and state and territorial Air National Guard units. Security and mail screening protocols at bases that handle VIP movements are typically robust, but mail and package incidents occasionally require on-scene response and forensic follow-up.

Suspicious-package responses at military and civilian facilities follow standardized procedures: immediate evacuation of exposed areas, HAZMAT assessment, medical triage for symptomatic individuals, and transfer of evidence to investigative authorities such as OSI or the FBI. In recent years, heightened political polarization and an increase in threat-related mailings have made such responses more frequent, prompting layered coordination between medical, security and criminal investigative teams.

Main Event

According to a Joint Base Andrews statement, base first responders arrived after an individual opened a suspicious package inside a building that contains the Air National Guard Readiness Center. The building and an adjacent connecting structure were evacuated and a cordon established around the area. Several people who were in proximity to the opened envelope were taken to the on-base Malcolm Grove Medical Center for evaluation and treatment.

Two sources familiar with the investigation told reporters the envelope contained an unknown white powder. A HAZMAT team conducted an initial field screen and — based on those field tests — did not detect an immediately hazardous material, the sources said. The HAZMAT unit left the scene Thursday evening, while the room where the envelope had been opened remained sealed for forensic processing.

Joint Base Andrews said its first responders had secured the scene and then turned the matter over to the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. Investigators are collecting the package and associated items, including printed political material found inside the envelope, and are examining them to determine origin and potential motive. Officials have not released details about the number or condition of those treated beyond that they were taken to on-base medical facilities.

Analysis & Implications

Operationally, the incident underscores the dual public-safety and national-security roles that Joint Base Andrews routinely fulfills. Because the installation serves as a transport hub for senior government officials, any security-related event there triggers rapid interagency coordination and heightened scrutiny. Even when initial tests suggest a low immediate hazard, the symbolic and logistical consequences—building closures, medical evaluations, and extended investigations—can be significant.

Medically, an unknown powder exposure requires conservative triage: symptomatic individuals should be assessed for respiratory, dermatologic and systemic signs, and decontamination protocols are often applied. The HAZMAT field screen is a first step; confirmatory laboratory analysis can take longer and is required to determine composition, toxicity, and any need for broader public-health actions. Until lab results are reported, attribution of cause for the reported illnesses should be treated cautiously.

Politically and legally, the inclusion of political propaganda inside the package complicates the probe. If investigators find a deliberate attempt to intimidate or target personnel for political reasons, the case could involve counterterrorism and criminal statutory elements, potentially expanding the investigative partnership to federal law enforcement agencies. However, investigators must avoid premature linkage between the content and the motive until forensic and interview results substantiate intent.

Comparison & Data

The simple timeline above situates the package incident relative to a known VIP presence at the base. While proximity of events can prompt additional investigative questions, it does not establish causation. Past suspicious-package events at government facilities have ranged from harmless powders to hoaxes, and only laboratory analysis can determine the substance conclusively.

Reactions & Quotes

Joint Base Andrews said first responders “determined there were no immediate threats” and that the scene has been transferred to the Office of Special Investigations.

Joint Base Andrews (official statement)

Two sources familiar with the probe said an initial HAZMAT field test “did not detect anything hazardous,” though confirmatory tests are pending.

Sources familiar with the investigation

The room where the envelope was opened remains closed while investigators process the area and examine materials found inside the package.

Base security update (paraphrase)

Unconfirmed

• Whether laboratory analysis will identify the white powder as hazardous remains unconfirmed; field tests reportedly showed no immediate hazard.
• Any link between the package and President Trump’s visit on Nov. 5, 2025, is unconfirmed and under investigation.
• The motives behind including political material in the package have not been established; intent has not been publicly attributed to any individual or group.

Bottom Line

The opening of an envelope containing an unknown white powder at Joint Base Andrews on Nov. 6, 2025 led to medical treatment for multiple people, a building evacuation and an OSI-led investigation. Initial HAZMAT field screening reportedly showed no immediate hazardous substance, but confirmatory laboratory results and investigative findings will determine the substance’s nature and any legal or security implications.

For now, officials are maintaining a controlled perimeter, processing physical evidence and interviewing witnesses. Readers should watch for formal updates from Joint Base Andrews, OSI and public-health laboratories to learn whether the material poses any broader risk or reveals a criminal motive.

Sources

• CNN — news report with source-attributed details
• Joint Base Andrews — official base statements and public affairs (official)