Chaos and Finger-Pointing Over Abrupt Closure of El Paso Airspace

The shutdown, caused by a Pentagon laser test, has led to embarrassment and a blame game within the Trump administration.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The abrupt closure and subsequent reversal of the closure of the airspace over El Paso, Texas has caused chaos and finger-pointing within the Trump administration. The airspace was shut down after Customs and Border Protection tested a high-energy laser against suspected drones, which turned out to be party balloons. This led to a scramble at the White House, with officials left in the dark and having to quickly call the FAA to reverse the decision. The blame is now being laid on the FAA for not alerting the administration, as well as on the Pentagon for testing the laser without proper coordination.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the contentious relationship between the Pentagon and the FAA, which has been strained since a deadly plane crash last year involving an Army helicopter and a commercial flight. It also raises concerns about the coordination and communication within the Trump administration on issues of national airspace and security.

The details

The FAA had announced on Wednesday that the airspace over El Paso would be closed for 10 days, only to reverse the decision about 8 hours later. Reports indicate that the shutdown was enacted because Customs and Border Patrol had been testing a high-energy laser at nearby Fort Bliss against suspected foreign drones, which turned out to be party balloons. This led to a scramble across the administration, with White House officials left in the dark and having to quickly call the FAA to reverse the decision.

  • On Wednesday, the FAA announced the airspace over El Paso would be closed for 10 days.
  • About 8 hours later, the FAA reversed the decision to close the airspace.

The players

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for the regulation and oversight of civil aviation.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

A federal law enforcement agency under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that is responsible for border control and customs operations.

Department of Defense (Pentagon)

The executive department of the U.S. federal government responsible for coordinating and supervising all agencies and functions of the government directly related to national security and the U.S. Armed Forces.

Rep. Veronica Escobar

A Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives representing Texas's 16th congressional district, which includes El Paso.

Sean Duffy

The U.S. Secretary of Transportation, whose agency houses the FAA.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“This set off a scramble across the entire administration. When the FAA put this restriction in place on Wednesday, including here at the White House, where officials told us they were left totally in the dark, they essentially found out about it in real time as it was happening.”

— Kevin Liptak, CNN Reporter (CNN)

“Now you know, at the White House, the blame is being laid squarely on the FAA for not alerting them to what they were planning to do. A lot of that blame was being heaped on the transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, whose agency houses the FAA, but we're getting pushback from other parts of the administration.”

— Kevin Liptak, CNN Reporter (CNN)

“This was the result of incompetence at the highest levels of the administration.”

— Rep. Veronica Escobar (Twitter)

What’s next

Officials from the FAA and the Pentagon are scheduled to meet on February 20 to discuss the high-energy laser technology and its potential impact on civilian aviation.

The takeaway

The abrupt closure and reversal of the El Paso airspace shutdown has exposed deep divisions and a lack of coordination within the Trump administration, highlighting the need for better communication and cooperation between federal agencies responsible for national security and aviation safety.