U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, called on March 12 for several federal agencies to immediately resolve coordination failures related to counter-drone activities following two major incidents last month near El Paso and Fort Hancock, Texas, and Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
The issue is significant because failures in interagency communication and planning have led to aviation safety risks. Cantwell's letter was addressed to Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford.
Cantwell wrote: “We need leadership at your respective agencies to allocate appropriate resources and attention to fix these coordination problems without delay—before a preventable tragedy occurs.” She added that "the Federal interagency coordination process for counter-drone activities is clearly broken," citing recent deployments of a high-energy laser system near the Texas-Mexico border that did not appear to mitigate specific drone threats but instead exposed serious process failures.
During a classified briefing on March 4 with leaders from the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and FAA, officials acknowledged serious coordination failures. The first incident involved the domestic use of a counter-drone laser system outside controlled environments, resulting in an airspace shutdown around El Paso and Santa Teresa that caused flight cancellations before being lifted hours later. Two weeks later, DHS’s Customs and Border Protection failed to notify the military about its own drone operations near DoD activity zones, leading to the downing of a CBP drone.
Cantwell questioned which agency should have authority over high-energy laser technology use and whether federal agencies are prepared for their responsibilities under new authorities granted by Congress in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. She also highlighted upcoming events such as the 2026 FIFA World Cup matches in Seattle and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as reasons for urgent action: “Each agency with counter-drone responsibilities needs to be prepared now to act swiftly in the face of any such threat without jeopardizing aviation safety.”
According to the official website, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee reviews legislation related to commerce, science and transportation during congressional sessions. The committee is directed by a chairman and includes senators from both parties according to its official website. It serves as a standing committee focused on these issues within the legislative branch according to its official website.
Cantwell requested that agency leaders brief her committee no later than March 25 on steps taken or planned regarding interagency coordination improvements for counter-drone systems. She concluded her letter by urging immediate action: “We need leadership at your respective agencies to allocate appropriate resources and attention to fix these coordination problems without delay—before a preventable tragedy occurs.”
The broader implications include ensuring public safety during major national events where drones could pose security risks if not properly managed.
