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:

Members of Congress are highly critical of the Pentagon reportedly using an anti-drone laser to shoot down a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone, leading to a new airspace closure in Texas.
This incident, following a similar event in El Paso, highlights a severe lack of communication and coordination between federal agencies (Pentagon, CBP, FAA) and local officials regarding counter-drone operations and associated airspace restrictions.
Congressional leaders accuse the White House and federal agencies of incompetence and sidestepping proper procedures for training counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) operators and ensuring inter-agency coordination.

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.