Democratic legislators are criticizing the Trump Administration following reports that a U.S. military laser took down a government-owned drone in Texas.

This event prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to close the airspace over Fort Hancock at 6:30 PM local time on Thursday due to “special security reasons.”

“We’re absolutely shocked by the report that the DoD shot down a Customs and Border Protection drone using a high-risk counter-unmanned aircraft system,” said Representatives Rick Larsen, ranking member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, André Carson, ranking member of the aviation subcommittee, and Bennie G. Thompson, ranking member on the Homeland Security committee.

Congressional aides reportedly stated that the Pentagon used a “high-energy laser system” to down the CBP drone near Fort Hancock, close to the U.S.-Mexico border.

The Department of Defense (DoD), FAA, and CBP confirmed the incident occurred but did not specifically mention an anti-drone laser.

“This reported interaction happened when the Department of Defense (referred to here as Department of War) used its counter-unmanned aircraft system powers to address a seemingly threatening unmanned aerial system flying in military airspace,” a joint statement to TIME read.

“The interaction occurred well away from populated regions, and no commercial planes were nearby,” they continued. “These agencies will keep working to enhance collaboration and communication to avoid similar incidents going forward.”

The agencies noted they are collaborating under President Donald Trump’s guidance “in an unprecedented way to counter drone threats from Mexican cartels and foreign terrorist groups at the U.S.-Mexico Border.”

Condemning the action, Democratic lawmakers stated they had warned months earlier that “the White House’s choice to bypass a bipartisan, tri-committee bill” aimed at properly training unmanned aircraft operators was “a short-sighted move.”

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee had approved the legislation in September, which sought to “reauthorize and reform counter-unmanned aircraft system authorities to boost transparency, security, safety, and accountability for those powers.”

But the Trump Administration bypassed it in December, opting instead for its own drone proposal in the area.

“We’re witnessing the outcome of its incompetence,” the Democratic lawmakers asserted in their joint statement on Thursday.

Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, the top Democrat on the Senate Aviation Subcommittee, demanded an immediate joint investigation by the Departments of Defense, Transportation, and Homeland Security.

“This type of communication breakdown between the DoD and FAA is what caused the tragic loss of life over DCA,” she stated Thursday evening, referring to the collision of a passenger jet and an army helicopter in Washington, D.C., last January that killed 67 people.

“It’s also extremely concerning to once again hear about this chaos from news reports instead of official channels,” she added.

Thursday’s event is the second time airspace in Texas has been closed due to drone-related issues, with interdepartmental miscommunication about drone use emerging as a recurring problem.

On February 10, the FAA implemented a 10-day airspace closure over El Paso, Texas—a decision that El Paso Mayor Renard Johnson said caused “chaos and confusion,” leading to panic, flight diversions, and other disruptions.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy explained the action was taken because the FAA and Defense Department “acted quickly to respond to a cartel drone incursion.”

“The threat has been eliminated, and commercial travel in the area is safe,” he said, noting that “the restrictions have been lifted and normal flights are restarting” only eight hours after the ban was imposed.

However, media outlets, including [unnamed], citing anonymous officials, reported that the flight ban was actually due to DoD counter-drone testing in the area—testing for which the department failed to share key safety details with the FAA.

The confusion surrounding the airspace closure and the initial lack of transparency about its cause drew criticism from legislators.

A Democratic representative from Washington stated on February 12 that the incident reminded her of why “interagency coordination is so crucial.”

But Duffy has stood by the El Paso airspace closure and his department’s actions.

“I don’t believe there was a communication gap,” he said on February 20, adding that he “communicates effectively” with other departments and their leaders, citing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem as examples.