Three US House Representatives – Bennie Thompson, Rick Larsen and Adam Smith – have sent a letter to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem regarding the recent temporary closure of El Paso airspace and airport.
Conflicting reports from different agencies have attributed the cause to drug cartel drone incursions and the use of the counter-uncrewed aerial system (C-UAS) technology intended to stop them.
The representatives are calling for a classified briefing on what it calls “the bungled operation in El Paso”.
“We are deeply concerned about the reported deployment by US Customs and Border Protection of a Department of Defense-owned high-energy C-UAS in the vicinity of El Paso, Texas which resulted in the temporary closure of the local airspace by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA),” the letter states. “Since the FAA’s issuance of temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) beginning on February 11, which have since been rescinded, there are conflicting reports on the cause for this abrupt airspace closure, ranging from an alleged “cartel drone incursion” to a shoot-down of a party balloon. Even more concerning, we understand that the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Defense deployed this complex C-UAS technology without required coordination with the FAA. This lack of coordination and transparency with Congress on C-UAS missions introduces unnecessary and dangerous risk into US airspace.”
The letter continues that despite repeated requests, committees have received little or no substantive information on the departmental actions that led to the events in El Paso.
“We request a joint classified briefing as soon as possible to gain clarity into what led to the closure of airspace in the El Paso area and how your Departments plan to rectify the systemic failures in your C-UAS deployment process. Your Departments are instrumental in protecting US critical infrastructure and assets from the growing threat of malicious UAS operations. However, these efforts must be appropriately coordinated to ensure the safety of the American people.”
For more information
Full letter at the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Image: El Paso International Airport
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