The White House was dark during Monday`s pre-dawn hours and emergency vehicles with lights flashing were clustered near the southeast entrance to the mansion.
A security perimeter had been set up around the building to restrict access.
Secret Service had no immediate comment on what it found. Some media reported the device was possibly a drone.
President Obama and his wife Michelle are currently on a three-day visit to India.
ABC News said Earnest could not tell the broadcaster whether Sasha and Malia Obama were home at the time.
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