Critics are calling out President Donald Trump and his administration after what appears to have been a massive screw-up in the airspace around El Paso, Texas, for the second time in less than a month.

The U.S. military on Thursday reportedly used a laser weapon to shoot down a drone near the U.S.-Mexico border. It turned out the drone was operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, The Associated Press reported.

Earlier this month, the FAA shut down the El Paso airport and surrounding airspace after CBP used a laser to shoot down party balloons that it had mistakenly believed to be Mexican drug cartel drones. CBS News reported that the closure was also related to military tests of the laser weapon, as well as a dispute with the FAA over how to handle them.

In the latest case, the FAA closed off airspace, but not the airport. The move did not impact commercial flights, AP reported.

Cartel drones have been spotted with increased frequency near the border. Earlier this month, Reuters reported that they tend to be “crudely adapted” off-the-shelf models and are used for both surveillance and to drop drug packages.

However, critics slammed the Trump administration for deploying experimental weapons without even correctly identifying the target:

They got Star Wars tech but can't tell friend from foe. What a time to be alive.

Bc ofc they fucking did. The incompetence is staggering. https://t.co/kFP3phZC4l

https://t.co/OB0gcyJqNO pic.twitter.com/WJC7B7UWDP

Oh. It doesn't appear DEI was a problem after all. Can we please put competent people back in these positions???? https://t.co/xwOyoyqMcL

I had to read this headline multiple times for the stupid to truly sink in. We shot down OUR OWN drone. The fucking incompetence is staggering 🤦🏻♀️ https://t.co/R9EGb0KwlR

I really thought they’d be more careful with the super laser after they were forced to shut down El Paso’s airspace for impetuously shooting down a Mylar balloon that they mistook for an enemy drone and they couldn’t even make it to the next calendar month lol https://t.co/W7afkEujYH

At least someone is fighting CBP https://t.co/ttJrWJBsDj

So the US government is literally shooting down their own drones….You can’t make this shit up😂🤣 https://t.co/10wlGYqNRN

The ineptitude of the current administration is astounding. https://t.co/6A2kpEqWF5

How is this possible? https://t.co/RFA2liC4ap

Can we please have DEI back? They were at least qualified and not Larry, Mo & Curly or the Keystone Cops..@GoguenHarvey https://t.co/RFEmdj4D8W

Ready, aim, > "fire"⬇️Whoopsie. pic.twitter.com/7giQMmgy34

I hope the USA wins this war against the USA.

So we're shooting our own drones down? pic.twitter.com/7sATwWvzLZ

We are attacking ourselves againMore Ls for the Trump Administration

Would be nice to get this Three Stooges situation figured out with deconfliction in the same airspace where civilian airliners fly. https://t.co/TzVvVq1Ibd

This administration is a total joke. https://t.co/oSyatLgbRY

Nothing to see here. Everyone just move on. https://t.co/Nie0XJzpL1

this is the dumbest timelinebut sort of hilarious https://t.co/bvkNoS2wsb

How much did this cost we tax payers?

This, in a nutshell, is what happens when you have a talk show host in charge.

We are literally the most embarrassing civilization to ever exist.

By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.