Feb. 28, 2026
US Senators Grill Pentagon Nominees on Arctic, Border Security
Nominees face questions on defending homeland while preserving civil liberties
Feb. 27, 2026
Dept. of Defense Shoots Down CBP Drone Near El Paso
Incident raises questions about coordination between military, DHS, and FAA over airspace security
Feb. 27, 2026
US Military Used Laser to Down Border Patrol Drone, Lawmakers Say
FAA closes airspace near El Paso after second laser incident in two weeks
Feb. 27, 2026
US Military Shoots Down Government Drone in Texas Accident
Congressional aides say the incident prompted FAA to bar flights in the area around Fort Hancock, Texas
Feb. 27, 2026
US Military Used Laser to Take Down Border Protection Drone
Lawmakers criticize Trump administration for 'sidestepping' drone safety legislation
Feb. 27, 2026
US Military Used Laser to Down Border Protection Drone
Lawmakers criticize Trump administration for lack of coordination between agencies
Feb. 27, 2026
Pentagon Fires Laser at Drone, Prompting Airspace Closure
Incident raises concerns over communication breakdown among government agencies on use of high-energy lasers.
Feb. 27, 2026
Military Shoots Down Customs Drone in Texas Airspace
Second such incident in two weeks raises concerns over communication breakdown between agencies
Feb. 27, 2026
US Military Used Laser to Take Down Border Protection Drone
Lawmakers say the incident was a case of mistaken identity that prompted airspace closures near the US-Mexico border.
Feb. 27, 2026
US Military Shoots Down Border Protection Drone Using Laser
Lawmakers criticize White House for sidestepping bipartisan legislation on counter-drone operations.
Feb. 15, 2026
Pentagon Clash with FAA Leads to Closure of El Paso Airspace
New high-energy laser weapons to target Mexican cartel drones sparked safety concerns
Feb. 15, 2026
Pentagon Laser Weapon Mistakenly Shoots Down Party Balloons, Causing Airport Shutdown
Customs and Border Protection used advanced laser to target 'cartel drones' but hit balloons instead, leading to FAA airspace closure and flight disruptions.
Feb. 14, 2026
U.S. Explores High-Energy Lasers to Counter Border Drones
Disagreements within government over use of laser weapon system against drones near the southern border
Feb. 13, 2026
Texas Congressman Warns of Growing Drone Threat to Airports Nationwide
Rep. Tony Gonzales says the U.S. must act quickly to give airports the ability to shoot down drones with lasers
Feb. 13, 2026
El Paso Airport Airspace Closed Over Drone Concerns, Then Reopened
Temporary shutdown highlights tensions between FAA and military over counter-drone technology testing
Feb. 13, 2026
US Laser System Mistakenly Fired at Balloons Near El Paso Airport
Incident prompts criticism over lack of coordination between federal agencies
Feb. 12, 2026
El Paso Airport Closed After Anti-Drone Laser Deployment
Concerns over potential threats to commercial airliners led to a temporary airspace shutdown.
Feb. 12, 2026
El Paso Airspace Shutdown Linked to Pentagon-FAA Dispute
Conflicting explanations given for closing Texas airspace, which was rescinded hours later
Feb. 12, 2026
Pentagon Allowed CBP to Use Anti-Drone Laser Before El Paso Airspace Closure
FAA later reduced airspace closure to just a few hours after initial 10-day shutdown
Feb. 11, 2026
FAA Abruptly Grounds All El Paso Flights for 10 Days
Unprecedented lockdown for 'special security reasons' leaves officials, travelers without answers
