Democrats Decry 'Incompetence' After U.S. Military Reportedly Shoots Down Government Drone Using Laser

Democratic lawmakers are criticising the Trump Administration after a government-owned drone was reportedly shot down with a laser by the U.S. military in Texas. The incident led to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) closing the airspace above Fort Hancock at 6:30 p.m., local time, on Thursday, citing “special security reasons.” “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,” said representatives Rick Larsen, ranking member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, André Carson, ranking member of the aviation subcommittee, and Bennie G. Thompson, ranking member on the Homeland Security committee. Congressional aides reportedly told Reuters that the Pentagon had used a “high-energy laser system” to shoot down the CBP drone near Fort Hancock, by the U.S.-Mexico border. The Department of Defense, FAA, and CBP acknowledged the incident, but made no specific reference to an anti-drone laser. “This reported engagement occurred when the Department of War [Defense] employed counter-unmanned aircraft system authorities to mitigate a seemingly threatening unmanned aerial system operating within military airspace,” read a joint statement sent to TIME. “The engagement took place far away from populated areas and there were no commercial aircraft in the vicinity,” they added. “These agencies will continue to work on increased cooperation and communication to prevent such incidents in the future.” The agencies said they are working together at President Donald Trump’s direction “in an unprecedented fashion to mitigate drone threats by Mexican cartels and foreign terrorist organizations at the U.S.-Mexico Border.” Decrying the action, Democratic lawmakers said they had already issued a warning months ago that “the White House’s decision to sidestep a bipartisan, tri-committee bill” to appropriately train unmanned aircraft was “a short-sighted idea.” The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee had approved the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act in September, which aimed to “reauthorize and reform counter-unmanned aircraft system authorities, to improve transparency, security, safety, and accountability related to such authorities.” But it was sidestepped by the Trump Administration in December, which instead favored its own proposal on drones in the National Defense Authorization Act. “We’re seeing the result of its incompetence,” the Democratic lawmakers argued in their joint statement Thursday.  Top Democrat on the Senate Aviation Subcommittee, Sen. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, called for a joint investigation by the Departments of Defense, Transport, and Homeland Security, to be launched immediately.  “It’s this kind of failure to communicate between DoD and FAA that led to the tragic loss of life above DCA,” said Duckworth Thursday evening, in reference to the collision of a passenger jet and army helicopter in D.C. last January, which claimed 67 lives. “It’s also deeply troubling to once again learn about this chaos in the news—rather than through official channels,” she added. Thursday’s incident is the second which has led to the shutdown of airspace due to drone interference in Texas—with miscommunication between departments over the use of drones appearing to be a common factor. On Feb. 10, the FAA launched a 10-day closure of the airspace over El Paso, Texas—a move El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson said sparked “chaos and confusion” as it prompted panic, diverted flights, and more.  Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said the action was taken as the FAA and Defense Department “acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion.” “The threat has been neutralized, and there is no danger to commercial travel in the region,” he said, announcing that “the restrictions have been lifted and normal flights are resuming” just eight hours after the ban came into place. But outlets including POLITICO, citing unnamed officials, said the flight ban actually came into effect due to DOD counter-drone testing in the area—testing about which the department didn’t share critical safety information with the FAA. The confusion over the airspace closure and the initial lack of clarity as to why it had occurred prompted criticism from lawmakers. Democratic Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington on Feb. 12 said it reminded her of why “interagency coordination is so important.”  But Duffy has defended the El Paso air closure and the action taken by his department. “I don’t think there was a lack of communication,” he said on Feb. 20, arguing that he “communicates well” with other departments and their leaders, naming Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as examples.