The Dirksen and Hart Senate office buildings were evacuated this afternoon when an electrical malfunction spread smoke in the buildings.

Reports of smoke came in at about 4:30 p.m. and the District of Columbia Fire Department responded, Capitol Police Sgt. Kimberly Schneider said. The problem was found to be an electrical malfunction, she said, and people have been permitted to re-enter the buildings.

— Elizabeth Brotherton