A Capitol Police crackdown turned physical Thursday afternoon, when officers clashed with reporters attempting to speak with senators in a location known as key territory for lawmakers and media to mix: the Senate basement.

Capitol Police officers physically shoved reporters away from senators heading to vote on the spending package, even when lawmakers were willingly engaging with the press.

Officers surrounded lawmakers and escorted them, physically blocking reporters from walking and talking alongside senators. It is common for Capitol Police to be present in the basement during a vote, but there were many more officers on hand than usual.

“It got really ugly,” said Paul McLeod, a BuzzFeed immigration reporter who witnessed the escalation.

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito engaged with the media as she made her way from the Senate subway to the elevators. But Capitol Police officers then encircled the West Virginia Republican, physically blocking reporters.