The United States military used a laser system to shoot down a U.S. Customs and Border Protection drone near El Paso, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to expand restricted airspace in the region, members of Congress revealed on Thursday.
Lawmakers said they were stunned by the disclosure, noting it marked the second time in two weeks that a laser-based counter-drone system had been deployed in the area. While the first incident did not strike a target, this latest action successfully disabled the drone. The FAA confirmed it expanded an airspace closure near Fort Hancock, though commercial flights were not disrupted.
Under federal rules, the military is required to formally notify the FAA whenever counter-drone actions are taken within U.S. airspace. It remains unclear why the laser was fired in this case.
In a joint statement, Democratic lawmakers led by U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen said they were alarmed by the incident, sharply criticizing the Trump administration for bypassing bipartisan legislation aimed at improving drone operator training and inter-agency coordination.
“Our heads are exploding over the news,” the lawmakers said, accusing the administration of “sidestepping” reforms meant to prevent exactly this kind of breakdown. “Now, we’re seeing the result of its incompetence.”
The Defense and Transportation departments referred questions to the FAA, which issued only a brief statement confirming the airspace expansion. Border Protection did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Two weeks ago, a similar incident near Fort Bliss led the FAA to temporarily shut down air traffic at El Paso International Airport, causing flight cancellations in the border city of nearly 700,000 residents. Sources familiar with that episode said the laser was deployed without prior coordination, forcing the FAA to act quickly to ensure aviation safety.
The latest episode has renewed concerns in Congress about coordination failures across federal agencies. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he plans to brief lawmakers on the matter, maintaining that closing the airspace was not a mistake.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Aviation Subcommittee, called for independent investigations, warning that “chaos in our skies” could have serious consequences.
The incident comes amid heightened concern over drones nationwide. Armed drones are reshaping modern warfare abroad, while along the U.S.-Mexico border, criminal groups frequently use drones to smuggle drugs and surveil law enforcement. Homeland Security officials have reported more than 27,000 drone detections near the southern border in just six months.
Congress recently expanded authority for trained federal, state and local agencies to take down rogue drones, as the number of registered drones in the United States surpasses 1.7 million. The federal government has also committed hundreds of millions of dollars to strengthen drone defenses ahead of major events, including the upcoming World Cup and celebrations marking America’s 250th anniversary.
