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A major power outage rocked Washington, D.C., just one day before the midterm elections, knocking out electricity at key federal government facilities as emergency crews responded to reports of smoke pouring from multiple manholes.
The disruption struck the Foggy Bottom neighborhood Monday, affecting approximately 1,100 customers, including government buildings and facilities at George Washington University.
Among the federal agencies reportedly impacted was the State Department, raising questions about the extent of the electrical failure in one of the nation’s most sensitive government districts.
According to The Daily Wire, several State Department facilities were “experiencing an unscheduled loss of electrical power” as utility crews scrambled to determine what caused the outage.
The department confirmed that it was working with Potomac Electric Power Company, commonly known as Pepco, to investigate the situation.
The timing immediately drew attention, with the disruption unfolding on the eve of a closely watched election that could determine which party controls Congress.
However, authorities have not indicated that the outage was connected to the election, and there is currently no publicly reported evidence of sabotage or deliberate interference.
Pepco acknowledged the widespread disruption in a statement to Washington television station WJLA.
“Pepco crews are currently investigating an outage impacting approximately 1,100 customers. Our crews are on site working to restore power safely and as quickly as possible to impacted customers,” the utility company said.
Meanwhile, the situation took another alarming turn when Washington, D.C., Fire and EMS personnel responded to reports of “smoke from multiple manholes” along the 1800 block of H Street NW.
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The location sits near the Farragut West Metro station, an area surrounded by federal offices, businesses and major transportation routes.
Emergency responders arrived to investigate the smoke while Pepco dispatched personnel to assist with electrical problems in the surrounding neighborhood.
According to DC Fire and EMS, utility workers were helping address a “power surge and electrical outages in the area.”
The combination of underground smoke, reported electrical surges and power failures prompted an emergency response in the heart of the nation’s capital.
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Officials have not publicly identified the source of the smoke or confirmed whether it directly caused the broader outage.
The disruption also affected George Washington University, whose campus occupies a substantial portion of the Foggy Bottom neighborhood.
Although the university and federal facilities were among the reported locations affected, the full scope of disruptions to government operations was not immediately clear.
The State Department’s reported loss of electricity is particularly notable given the agency’s responsibility for conducting American diplomacy and coordinating sensitive international operations.
Still, there has been no official indication that classified systems or critical national security functions were compromised.
The outage comes as Washington prepares for Tuesday’s midterm elections, with Republicans and Democrats battling for control of the House and Senate.
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President Donald Trump‘s administration is entering the final stretch before voters decide whether Republicans will retain their congressional majorities or face expanded Democratic oversight.
While the political stakes are enormous, the electrical emergency has not been linked to the election or any political activity.
For now, investigators are focused on determining what triggered the disruption and restoring electricity to affected buildings.
Authorities have not announced a cause for the reported electrical surge, and no restoration deadline was provided in the initial reports.
The incident left approximately 1,100 Pepco customers affected as utility crews and emergency responders worked to address the outage and investigate smoke emerging from underground infrastructure.
With Election Day approaching, the sudden electrical failure has added an unexpected disruption to an already tense week in Washington.
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[ H/T Trending Politics ]
