Pentagon Anti-Drone Laser Prompts 2nd Texas Airspace Closure

Members of Congress say their ‘heads are exploding’ after another sudden shutdown this month.

Jack Daleo

Friday, February 27, 2026 at 11:30 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Silhouette of a drone in flight [Credit: JeShoots/Pexels]

Key Takeaways:

Congressional members expressed outrage after the Pentagon reportedly used an anti-drone laser to shoot down a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone, highlighting severe communication failures between federal agencies.
This incident, along with a prior uncoordinated airspace closure in El Paso, revealed a critical lack of inter-agency communication between the Pentagon, CBP, FAA, and local authorities regarding counter-drone operations.
The uncoordinated actions and resulting temporary flight restrictions have caused significant disruptions, including diverted medical flights, delayed shipments, and substantial economic impact on local communities, raising serious safety concerns.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Members of Congress on Thursday said their “heads are exploding” over reports that the Pentagon used a high-energy anti-drone laser to shoot down an uncrewed aerial system (UAS) belonging to Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

The statement from Representatives Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), André Carson (D-Ind.), and Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.)—all ranking members on House committees or subcommittees dealing with transportation or national security—came as multiple outlets reported the Pentagon’s use of the laser, prompting a second airspace closure in Texas this month.