The Secret Service shut down the front lawn of the White House, including to the news media, due to an unknown incident.
Press were moved inside to the White House briefing room as they were waiting outside for an informal press conference with Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
The lockdown called around 11:30 a.m. was lifted about 30 minutes later.
White House officials are reportedly looking into the matter.
A similar incident happened in 2020, when Secret Service evacuated President Donald Trump during a press conference and then shot a man who claimed he had a weapon.
Christian Datoc contributed to this report.