The official reason for why the Federal Aviation Administration abruptly closed the airspace over El Paso, Texas, for about eight hours early Wednesday remains unclear as Congress questions the explanation given by the Trump administration.
The restriction was initially set to last 10 days, but it was quickly lifted by the FAA. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attributed the airspace closure to an alleged Mexican “cartel drone incursion,” which he said was “neutralized” Wednesday morning.
But some members of Congress are wary of the explanation.
Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX), who represents the El Paso-based congressional district in Texas, said the reported drone incursion is “not the information that we in Congress have been told” and that there was no threat posed to the area.
“There’s no threat. There was not a threat, which is why the FAA lifted this restriction so quickly,” the congresswoman told reporters. “The information coming from the administration does not add up.
“There have been drone incursions from Mexico going back to as long as drones existed. So this is nothing new,” she said. “The drone incursion from Mexico — obviously not something any of us want to see. But this is not unusual, and there was nothing extraordinary about any drone incursion into the U.S. that I’m aware of.”
Rep. Tony Gonzalez (R-TX) similarly noted cartel drone sightings are common for Texans living along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Escobar said the airspace over southern New Mexico remained closed, adding she knew the reason without elaborating further.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) also commented on the situation, revealing his office is in contact with the FAA, Department of War, and other federal agencies to get answers on the sudden shutdown. He hopes more information can be shared in the coming days.
The move to shut down El Paso’s airspace for 10 days in the first place has been described by many government officials as unprecedented. A flight restriction of this length extends beyond the nationwide shutdown after 9/11. Despite the large-scale terrorist attack at the time, airports and commercial flights began reopening two days later.
El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson compared the brief airspace closure to 9/11 while also blaming the FAA for the “unacceptable” lack of clear communication during a possible crisis.
“This unnecessary decision has caused chaos and confusion in the El Paso community,” Johnson said. “I want to be very, very clear that this should’ve never happened. You cannot restrict airspace over a major city without coordinating with the city, the airport, the hospitals, the community leadership.”
The mayor explained that as a result of the short-lived restriction, medical evacuation flights were forced to divert to Las Cruces, New Mexico. The city is located about 45 miles northwest of El Paso.
The Pentagon reportedly tested new counter-drone technology at Fort Bliss, purportedly leading to the unexpected closure. The U.S. Army base sits adjacent to El Paso International Airport. CBS News reports laser technology was used to shoot a party balloon this week during the drone-related tests and that there was a breakdown in communication between the FAA and the military late Tuesday.
During her congressional testimony, Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the U.S. military eliminated alleged drones originating from drug cartels in Mexico.
“Of course, our efforts reach beyond our urban centers. We are striking crucial blows against terrorist organizations such as MS-13, [Tren de Aragua], the Sinaloa Cartel, and antifa,” Bondi said. “And as we sit here, I think you’ve seen the news this morning, the news is reporting that cartel drones are being shot down by our military. That’s what we all should care about right now: protecting America.”
Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her government had “no information about the use of drones at the border” and stressed the importance of “permanent communication” with the United States.
Mexican airspace was not closed. El Paso is located on the edge of the southern border, right across from Ciudad Juarez.
