 drone near Fort Hancock, Texas, triggering criticism from Democratic lawmakers who cite serious coordination failures between federal agencies.){kind=link}
A U.S. military unit shot down a Customs and Border Protections drone with a laser near Fort Hancock, Texas, triggering criticism from Democratic lawmakers who cite serious coordination failures between federal agencies.
The incident unfolded within restricted military airspace, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to close nearby airspace for “special security reasons.” Fort Hancock sits roughly 50 miles southeast of El Paso along the U.S.-Mexico border, a region central to the Trump administration’s border security strategy.
Lawmakers Blast “Incompetence”
Democratic Reps. Bennie G. Thompson, Rick Larsen, and André Carson called the episode alarming, blaming what they described as a lack of coordination between the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the FAA.
“Our heads are exploding,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement, criticizing the use of a high-risk counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) against what turned out to be a U.S. government drone.
Pentagon, DHS Cite Security Threats
In a joint statement, the FAA, CBP, and the Defense Department said the military acted under counter-drone authorities to neutralize a “seemingly threatening” unmanned aircraft in military airspace. Officials did not explicitly confirm the drone belonged to CBP but pledged improved communication to prevent similar incidents.
The administration maintains the action was part of broader efforts to counter alleged drone threats from Mexican cartels and foreign terrorist organizations operating near the southern border.
Previous Airspace Disruptions Raise Questions
Earlier this month, the FAA briefly halted flights at El Paso International Airport following what officials later described as a communication breakdown involving a laser-based counter-drone weapon deployed by DHS personnel. That ground stop was quickly reversed.
The laser system had reportedly been temporarily transferred from the Pentagon to DHS with approval from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Calls for Investigation
Sen. Tammy Duckworth called for a joint investigation, labeling the situation “alarming” and criticizing the lack of transparency.
The FAA’s current flight restrictions near Fort Hancock remain in place through June 24 as federal agencies review the incident.
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