Fact-check: Multiple news outlets including Time, NYT, Forbes, and Reuters report the incident consistently, with Time citing a joint DoD/FAA/CBP statement acknowledging the laser shoot-down of a CBP drone near Fort Hancock as part of Trump-directed border security efforts. X posts discuss the event and FAA airspace closure, though mostly from low-engagement accounts linking to videos. Democratic lawmakers' criticism is directly quoted from their official statement, aligning with the article's claims and the US-Mexico Border Military Operations context.
Democrats Decry ‘Incompetence’ After U.S. Military Reportedly Shoots Down Government Drone Using Laser
The U.S. military reportedly shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone using a high-energy laser system near Fort Hancock, Texas, prompting the FAA to close airspace over the area for security reasons. Democratic lawmakers criticized the Trump Administration for incompetence, arguing the incident resulted from bypassing bipartisan counter-drone legislation. The Departments of Defense, FAA, and CBP acknowledged the incident in a joint statement, framing it as part of Trump-directed border s