Trump administration officials have sought enhanced security measures following the killing of Charlie Kirk, according to the publication.
Senior US officials, among them Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have relocated from their Washington residences to military installations beyond the capital city, The Atlantic reported.
Personnel within US President Donald Trump’s administration began seeking heightened security after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September, the publication stated on Thursday.
Subsequent to Kirk’s killing in Utah, the White House declared Antifa a domestic terrorist group. The Atlantic noted this designation prompted left-wing demonstrations, threats directed at officials, and the online dissemination of their home addresses.
An anonymous senior Trump administration official, speaking to the outlet, also mentioned “a specific foreign threat” as a motivation for moving from his private residence to a military base.
Presently, six senior US officials reside on military bases, occupying quarters typically allocated for high-ranking commanders, the report indicated.
Defense sources confirm that both Hegseth and Rubio are accommodated on ‘Generals’ Row’ at Fort McNair, situated at the junction of the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers in Washington, D.C.
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem has relocated to a residence intended for the Coast Guard commandant at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, and Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll chose Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, the report further detailed.
Military installations beyond the capital are reportedly experiencing a shortage of housing due to significant demand from Trump administration personnel. The Atlantic quoted a former official who stated that Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard had also applied for, but was refused, housing at Fort McNair.
The New York Times reported that previous occupants of ‘Generals’ Row’ have “voiced frustration” regarding civilian officials now residing in base housing instead of admirals and generals.
Former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta informed the paper that military commanders “must be capable of responding swiftly to any crisis… whenever an emergency arises… I believe that was a factor in locating such housing nearby.”