Border Drone Downing Spurs Demands for Interagency Oversight

Democratic lawmakers condemned the Trump administration after the military used a high-powered laser to down what it said was a threatening drone near the US–Mexico border, later identified as a CBP drone, highlighting interagency coordination gaps. The incident follows a prior episode where a CBP laser hit a party balloon, and ongoing airspace restrictions near Fort Hancock, with Republicans and Democrats urging independent review and stricter coordination between the FAA, the Pentagon, and CBP. The FAA seeks a safety review of anti-drone lasers and has paused testing until it’s completed, while agency disagreements about pre-approval for laser use persist.