Pentagon lifts shelter-in-place order after ’air quality issue’ deemed false alarm
A shelter-in-place order issued by the Pentagon Thursday due to an “air quality issue” ended after it was deemed a false alarm, Defense Department spokesperson Sean Parnell said.
“Earlier this morning, Pentagon occupants were notified of a potential air quality issue, prompting immediate precautionary safety measures and evaluation. Subsequent testing confirmed no hazard exists, and normal operations have resumed,” Parnell said in a statement.
“We express our sincere appreciation to the first responders for their swift actions to ensure the safety of all personnel.”
A Pentagon official told MS NOW that the incident did not affect senior leadership movements, including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Full investigation results will take time, the official said.
“After a real-time detection of a biological agent, a full response was initiated and shelter-in-place was given. After samples were sent to the lab, initial results came back as negative,” the official said.
In announcing the shelter-in-place order earlier, Parnell said in a statement that “the Pentagon has sophisticated systems to ensure the safety of the building and its occupants. Those systems have detected an air quality issue necessitating precautionary measures until we determine its significance.”
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Clarissa-Jan Lim is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW. She was previously a senior reporter and editor at BuzzFeed News.
Erum Salam is a breaking news reporter for MS NOW, with a focus on how global events and foreign policy shape U.S. politics. She previously was a breaking news reporter for The Guardian.
