U.S. military lasers disabled a border drone near El Paso, sparking airspace closures and criticism over interagency coordination.

February of 2026: The U.S. The FAA has expanded airspace closures after military personnel reportedly used a laser to disable a Customs and Border Protection drone near El Paso, Texas. The incident, the second in two weeks, came after an air traffic disruption caused by an uncoordinated laser deployment close to Fort Bliss. Lawmakers voiced concern over interagency coordination shortcomings and criticized the Trump administration for failing to pass a bipartisan bill to enhance federal communication and drone operator training, even though there were no injuries or property damage. Concerns regarding the use of military equipment in domestic airspace and the requirement for more transparent procedures have grown as a result of the incident.