The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) are investigating a series of mailings containing "suspicious substances" sent to congressional and election offices across the United States. Federal authorities confirmed on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, that they are working to intercept the letters and identify those responsible. Notices urged recipients to treat the mailings as "potentially hazardous" while law enforcement conducts testing on the unknown substances.
The investigation follows similar incidents reported in 2023 and 2024 involving election offices. In the 2023 cases, envelopes sent to six states contained traces of fentanyl, a powerful opioid, alongside threatening messages. The current mailings were reported approximately three weeks before Election Day.
In Louisiana, an employee in the Secretary of State’s Elections Division opened a package containing white powder on Tuesday, October 13, 2026. Secretary of State Nancy Landry stated that law enforcement tests found no harmful substances and no injuries occurred. On the same morning, the Oklahoma State Election Board evacuated its office after receiving an envelope with suspicious white powder; Secretary Paul Ziriax reported that no one was injured. In Ohio, the Postal Service intercepted a similar package intended for the secretary of state.
In Washington, the Senate Sergeant at Arms notified congressional staff that some letters had reached their destinations. A spokesperson for Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) confirmed that the senator’s office received a letter containing a suspicious substance but stated that safety protocols prevented immediate danger to staff. While the incidents appeared concentrated in the Senate, the House of Representatives is monitoring the situation.
The incident carries an operational burden for election agencies during the final weeks of a voting cycle. In previous similar events, election offices spent departmental funds on safety measures, such as stocking naloxone (an overdose reversal medication), due to the presence of fentanyl in past mailings. The current threats have led the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors to issue a statement, stating that administrators should not fear for their safety while performing their duties.
The U.S. Postal Service is attempting to screen and intercept further mailings. Next steps involve ongoing laboratory testing of the substances and a criminal investigation led by the FBI and USPIS. Authorities have not yet identified any suspects.