US military used laser to shoot down Border Protection drone near Texas border, lawmakers say

Texas: The US military used a laser on Thursday to bring down a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone near Fort Hancock, Texas, according to lawmakers who were briefed through official channels.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded by expanding restricted airspace around Fort Hancock, though commercial flights were not affected. Earlier this month, the FAA had temporarily halted traffic at El Paso airport following another reported use of an anti-drone laser system.

Lawmakers raise concerns

Representative Rick Larsen and other senior Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee said they were alarmed by reports that the Department of Defense deployed a high-risk counter-unmanned aircraft system (C-UAS) against a US government drone.

In a statement, the lawmakers criticised what they described as a lack of coordination between the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security and the FAA. They argued that earlier warnings about training and oversight had not been addressed.

Agency responses

The United States Department of Defense and the Transportation Department referred questions to the FAA. The aviation regulator confirmed it had expanded the restricted airspace but provided limited details. Customs and Border Protection did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The incident comes amid concerns about cross-border drone incursions linked to criminal groups operating along the US–Mexico border. A similar restriction was briefly imposed over El Paso earlier in the month before being lifted following safety discussions.

The episode has renewed scrutiny over inter-agency coordination and the risks associated with deploying laser-based anti-drone systems in civilian airspace.