Overview
- Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem cut short a Phoenix press conference when pressed on reports that CBP fired a military‑provided anti‑drone laser at objects later described as party balloons.
- An NBC News account, cited by multiple outlets, reported the laser use was not fully coordinated with the FAA, while an initial administration explanation pointed to cartel drones allegedly disabled by the military.
- The FAA issued a temporary flight restriction that would have closed El Paso’s airspace below 18,000 feet for ten days, including medical helicopters, before reopening the airspace within hours.
- Noem characterized the action as a joint agency task force mission and thanked the “Department of War” and the FAA, offering no direct confirmation on the balloons question before ending the event.
- FAA and Pentagon officials are set to meet on Feb. 20 to review the technology and its safety implications, as scrutiny of DHS leadership intensifies following the week’s controversies reported by the Wall Street Journal.