FBI Investigates Suspicious Letters with Substances Mailed to Congress, Election Offices Nationwide

Washington, D.C., October 15, 2026
A fine white powder spilled across the floor of a Louisiana election office as workers opened a sealed envelope, prompting an immediate evacuation and a swift response from federal agents. The FBI, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the U.S. Capitol Police have launched a nationwide investigation into letters containing suspicious substances that were mailed to congressional and election offices. On October 6, 2023, a message obtained by The Associated Press from the Senate Sergeant at Arms disclosed that law enforcement officials were working to intercept any additional letters but warned that “it is possible that some letters may reach their destinations.” The notice triggered heightened scrutiny of inbound mail at state and local election sites. This week, election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma were evacuated after employees discovered powdery substances inside parcels. In Ohio, the Secretary of State reported that the Postal Service intercepted a package addressed to his office that held a white powder, and similar mailings had been directed to election officials in several other states. From Idaho to Florida, numerous states told investigators that their election offices either received letters containing unknown powders or had such items stopped by the Postal Service before delivery. The Wisconsin Elections Commission confirmed in a statement that it had received a letter and that testing showed the enclosed white powder was not hazardous. The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors issued a joint statement condemning what they described as threats against election staff and urging vigilance across the country. Investigators note that the current episode echoes a similar wave in 2023 when election offices in six states received mailings that contained white powder. In some instances those deliveries disrupted preparations for local elections, and a subset of the letters included threats along with traces of the opioid fentanyl, prompting some offices to stock naloxone as a precaution. Federal agents continue to examine each intercepted parcel, using laboratory tests to identify any harmful substances while the Postal Service holds suspect items for further analysis. The Capitol Police have increased security screening at facilities that handle congressional correspondence, and state election directors have briefed staff on updated protocols for reporting suspicious mail. As the investigation proceeds, authorities say they will pursue any leads that point to those responsible for the mailings and will keep election officials informed of new developments. The focus remains on preventing further deliveries and ensuring that the electoral process can proceed without interruption.