Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he will brief lawmakers on Capitol Hill next week about the temporary closure of airspace around El Paso, Texas, earlier this month.
Duffy told reporters Friday that he stood behind the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision, despite the controversy that followed the action.
“Was it a mistake to close the airspace?” a reporter asked during a press conference on an unrelated topic in Washington, to which Duffy replied: “No.”
Related: Drones, Drugs, Laser Beams Stir Confusion Over Texas Skies
The FAA imposed flight restrictions, which drew backlash from local officials and were initially intended to last 10 days, on Feb. 10 but lifted them the following day.
Administration officials, including Duffy, said the closure happened because drones from Mexican drug cartels breached US airspace.
Others familiar with the events said the FAA was concerned about the Department of Homeland Security’s use of a military counter-drone laser system and the possible safety implications for nearby civilian aircraft. They said the system’s operation wasn’t coordinated with the FAA.
On Friday, Duffy denied there was a lack of communication between the agencies involved. When asked about the veracity of his initial statement about a Mexican drug cartel drone breach, he said: “I use information that I get.”
Duffy declined to provide further information about the event, saying he first wanted to discuss the matter with members of Congress who have asked for a classified briefing.
“I think we owe a conversation with the Hill before I have a conversation with you,” he told reporters.
Top photo: Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy. Bloomberg.