Duffy to Update Congress Next Week on El Paso Shutdown Situation

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is set to brief lawmakers on Capitol Hill next week regarding the recent temporary closure of airspace around El Paso, Texas. This incident, which occurred earlier this month, has sparked considerable debate and concern among local officials and the public.

During a press conference on Friday, Duffy expressed his support for the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) decision to impose flight restrictions, despite the backlash that followed. When questioned by a reporter about whether the airspace closure was a mistake, Duffy firmly responded, “No.”

Related: Drones, Drugs, Laser Beams Stir Confusion Over Texas Skies

The FAA implemented these flight restrictions on February 10, initially planning for them to last 10 days. However, the restrictions were lifted the very next day. Administration officials, including Duffy, attributed the closure to the incursion of drones from Mexican drug cartels into U.S. airspace.

However, sources familiar with the situation indicated that the FAA’s concerns were also linked to the Department of Homeland Security’s deployment of a military counter-drone laser system. This system’s operation raised safety concerns for nearby civilian aircraft, particularly because it had not been coordinated with the FAA.

In response to questions about communication between the involved agencies, Duffy denied any lack of coordination. When pressed about the accuracy of his initial claims regarding the drone breaches by Mexican cartels, he stated, “I use information that I get.”

While Duffy refrained from providing additional details about the incident, he emphasized the importance of discussing the matter with Congress first. “I think we owe a conversation with the Hill before I have a conversation with you,” he told reporters, indicating that a classified briefing for lawmakers is a priority.

Top photo: Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. Bloomberg.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is set to brief lawmakers on Capitol Hill next week regarding the recent temporary closure of airspace around El Paso, Texas. This incident, which occurred earlier this month, has sparked considerable debate and concern among local officials and the public.

During a press conference on Friday, Duffy expressed his support for the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) decision to impose flight restrictions, despite the backlash that followed. When questioned by a reporter about whether the airspace closure was a mistake, Duffy firmly responded, “No.”

Related: Drones, Drugs, Laser Beams Stir Confusion Over Texas Skies

The FAA implemented these flight restrictions on February 10, initially planning for them to last 10 days. However, the restrictions were lifted the very next day. Administration officials, including Duffy, attributed the closure to the incursion of drones from Mexican drug cartels into U.S. airspace.

However, sources familiar with the situation indicated that the FAA’s concerns were also linked to the Department of Homeland Security’s deployment of a military counter-drone laser system. This system’s operation raised safety concerns for nearby civilian aircraft, particularly because it had not been coordinated with the FAA.

In response to questions about communication between the involved agencies, Duffy denied any lack of coordination. When pressed about the accuracy of his initial claims regarding the drone breaches by Mexican cartels, he stated, “I use information that I get.”

While Duffy refrained from providing additional details about the incident, he emphasized the importance of discussing the matter with Congress first. “I think we owe a conversation with the Hill before I have a conversation with you,” he told reporters, indicating that a classified briefing for lawmakers is a priority.

Top photo: Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. Bloomberg.

Copyright 2026 Bloomberg.