US Military Shoots Down Border Protection Drone Using Laser

Lawmakers criticize White House for sidestepping bipartisan legislation on counter-drone operations.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The U.S. military used a laser to shoot down a Customs and Border Protection drone on Thursday, according to members of Congress. This incident comes just over two weeks after the FAA shut down the El Paso airport and surrounding airspace due to another use of an anti-drone laser. While commercial flights are not affected this time, the FAA has expanded the airspace closure around Fort Hancock, Texas.

Why it matters

The use of military lasers to take down government drones raises concerns about coordination and oversight between the Pentagon, Department of Homeland Security, and the FAA. Lawmakers have previously warned that the White House's decision to sidestep bipartisan legislation on counter-drone operations could lead to such incidents.

The details

According to Rep. Rick Larsen and other top Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee, they were officially notified about the military's use of a laser to shoot down the Customs and Border Protection drone. The Defense Department and Transportation Department referred questions to the FAA, which said it had expanded the airspace closure around Fort Hancock in response.

  • The FAA shut down the El Paso airport and surrounding area just over two weeks ago after another use of an anti-drone laser.
  • The latest incident occurred on Thursday, February 27, 2026.

The players

Rep. Rick Larsen

A Democratic member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee who was notified about the military's use of a laser to shoot down the Customs and Border Protection drone.

U.S. Military

Used a laser to shoot down a Customs and Border Protection drone on Thursday.

Customs and Border Protection

The owner of the drone that was shot down by the U.S. military using a laser.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Expanded the airspace closure around Fort Hancock, Texas in response to the latest incident involving the use of an anti-drone laser.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

Involved in the coordination and oversight of counter-drone operations, according to the lawmakers' criticism of the White House's decision to sidestep bipartisan legislation on this issue.

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What they’re saying

“Our heads are exploding over the news that DoD reportedly shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone using a high risk counter-unmanned aircraft system.”

— Rep. Rick Larsen, Democratic member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee (official notification)

“We said months ago that the White House's decision to sidestep a bipartisan, tri-committee bill to appropriately train C-UAS operators and address the lack of coordination between the Pentagon, DHS and the FAA was a short-sighted idea. Now, we're seeing the result of its incompetence.”

— Rep. Rick Larsen, Democratic member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee (official notification)

What’s next

The FAA stated it had expanded the airspace closure around Fort Hancock in response to the latest incident. The Defense Department and Transportation Department referred questions to the FAA, indicating further coordination and investigation may be ongoing between the agencies.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the need for clear protocols and oversight when it comes to the use of counter-drone technology by the military and other government agencies. The lack of coordination between the Pentagon, DHS, and the FAA, as criticized by lawmakers, raises concerns about the potential for similar incidents in the future and the risks they pose to public safety and airspace management.