A major internal rift within the U.S. government spilled into public view on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, as a dispute between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of War triggered a historic—though short-lived—closure of the skies over El Paso, Texas. What was initially reported as a “cartel drone incursion” has now been revealed as a chaotic breakdown in coordination over the testing of high-energy laser weapons near Fort Bliss.
The Laser vs. the Law
According to sources cited by CBS News and MS Now, the Pentagon had been planning to test advanced counter-UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) technology, specifically a high-energy laser, to protect the border from cartel surveillance. Pentagon officials argued that they had met all legal requirements under 10 U.S. Code § 130i, which empowers the Secretary of Defense to use “deadly force” to protect certain military facilities from drones.
However, the FAA, led by Administrator Bryan Bedford, pushed back. On Tuesday night, after the Pentagon insisted on proceeding with the tests despite unresolved safety concerns regarding civilian flight paths, Bedford took the “nuclear option.” Without notifying the White House, the Pentagon, or the Department of Homeland Security, Bedford issued a 10-day Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR)—the longest full grounding since 9/11.
“Special Security Reasons” vs. Party Balloons
The public was initially fed a different story. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated on X that the FAA and military had “acted swiftly to address a cartel drone incursion.” While officials confirmed that at least one cartel drone was neutralized earlier in the week, sources revealed a more embarrassing reality: a previous engagement with the same laser system at the border had actually targeted and shot down party balloons.
“The military was operating in a ‘shoot first, ask questions later’ mode,” a congressional staffer noted. “The FAA grounded the planes because they couldn’t be sure the laser wouldn’t hit a commercial pilot’s eyes or a wing while the military was chasing Mylar balloons.”
Susie Wiles Intervenes
The unprecedented 10-day blackout lasted only a few hours. The crisis reportedly reached a head in a Wednesday morning meeting in White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles’ office. Within minutes of learning that the FAA had effectively sealed off a city of 700,000 people over an inter-agency “grudge match,” the order was given to lift the restrictions.
Fallout and Future
While flights have resumed, the political damage is significant. El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson slammed the move as “unnecessary chaos,” while the Department of War continues to insist that its authority under Section 130i supersedes the FAA’s normal safety protocols during a national defense emergency. The incident highlights the growing “growing pains” of the Trump administration’s Operation Southern Spear, where the rush to militarize the border is increasingly colliding with the realities of domestic civilian life.
