The Great Read: The Night the Government Closed the Skies Over El Paso
A high-energy laser weapon and a power struggle between federal agencies brought a night of hassles to the city.
The New York Times
The Great Read

April 20, 2026, 2:01 p.m. Eastern time

On weekdays and Sundays, we recommend one piece of exceptional writing from The Times — a narrative or essay that takes you someplace you might not expect to go.

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Paul Ratje for The New York Times

The Night the Government Closed the Skies Over El Paso

A high-energy laser weapon and a power struggle between federal agencies brought a night of hassles to the city.

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