FAA Lifts El Paso Airspace Closure

Was the El Paso airport closure a chaotic failure or decisive action against cartel drones that worked as intended?

Published 7 hours ago·Updated 4 hours ago

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Above: A sign at the El Paso International Airport (ELP) in El Paso, Texas, on Dec. 25, 2025. Image credit: Kirby Lee/Getty Images

The Spin

Republican narrative

Mexican cartel drones have repeatedly tested U.S. airspace along the southern border, but the risks posed to airborne assets this time were even higher. Once drones entered restricted airspace near El Paso, the FAA rightly imposed a temporary flight restriction until defense officials neutralized the threat. Security protocols have worked as intended.

News Nation

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Democratic narrative

The El Paso airport closure was a chaotic mess with zero transparency and conflicting explanations that don't add up. Officials were blindsided by the sudden shutdown, and the administration's muddled responses reveal either incompetence or a dangerous lack of coordination. This debacle exposes systemic failures in how agencies communicate during critical operations.

Vox

Gabe Vasquez on X