- A US military laser system mistakenly shot down a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) drone near the US-Mexico border on Thursday, leading to the airspace being closed and political criticism.
- This incident marks the second time in two weeks a laser has been deployed in the area by the Department of Defense, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to close additional airspace around Fort Hancock.
- Democrats in Congress expressed "astonishment" and criticized the Trump administration for "incompetence" and "sidestepping" a bipartisan bill aimed at improving inter-agency communication regarding drone operations.
- A joint statement from the FAA, CBP, and the Pentagon confirmed the military "employed counter-unmanned aircraft system authorities" against a "seemingly threatening" drone, noting it was part of efforts to bolster border protections "at President Trump’s direction".
- Illinois Democratic Sen. Tammy Duckworth has called for an independent investigation, highlighting ongoing concerns about inter-agency coordination failures and the growing threat posed by drones, particularly from Mexican cartels.
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