Add The New York Post on Google WASHINGTON —The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing permanent flight rules around President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in the name of “national security,” citing concern about unmanned drones and unauthorized aircraft.
The FAA said the proposal was made “at the request of the Secret Service,” citing “adverse threat intelligence and the ongoing protective mission” of the agency.
The Secret Service — which protects presidents and first ladies for their lifetimes — said the flight restrictions would “greatly increase the ability to mitigate the persistent risks posed by unauthorized aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operating in proximity to sensitive areas,” according to the rule notice posted by the FAA.
President Trump takes off from Mar-a-Lago – the FAA is seeking to establish permanent flight restrictions around his Florida home USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect The proposal would establish special flight rules within one nautical mile and up to 2,000 feet in altitude around the president’s Palm Beach club. Aircraft arriving or departing from the President Donald J. Trump International Airport would have to meet specific criteria to enter that space.
“At the request of the U.S. Secret Service in the interest of national security, the FAA is proposing Special Air Traffic Rules for the airspace near Donald J. Trump International Airport (DJT),” an FAA spokesperson told The Post.
The Secret Service did not respond to a request for comment.
President Trump has been the target of multiple assassination attempts, including one in September 2024, when a gunman hid in the bushes at his Palm Beach golf club.
His Mar-a-Lago residence is less than five miles from the airport and sits directly in the flight path for aircraft. There are temporary flight restrictions already in place.
The FAA established the interim restrictions in October 2025 but they expire in October of this year. The rule they are seeking to establish would make those permanent.
President Trump’s Palm Beach home sits in the flight path of Donald J. Trump International Airport AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein It’s typical for the FAA to implement flight restrictions around presidential residences, which usually forbid all aircraft from entering the area.
But such a designation would “severely limit routine operations at the DJT airport and restrict access by emergency and security operators unless approved,” the agency noted, adding that is why it was proposing special air-traffic rules.
Their proposal “protects the President and ensures USSS can secure Mar-A-Lago Club while at the same time minimizing the impact to aircraft arriving and departing President Donald J. Trump International Airport,” the agency argued.
Under the special rule, commercial aircraft will be allowed in space as long as they follow the established rules, which include requiring aircraft to file a flight plan that details the planned route, aircraft capabilities, and intentions; maintain two-way radio communication; have Air Traffic Control authorization to be in the space; and transmitting a discrete transponder code assigned by ATC.
The FAA will also allow emergency, lifesaving and law enforcement aircraft access to the space as long as the pilots stay in touch with the DJT air traffic control tower.
Without access to the airspace around Mar-a-Lago, the main runway at DJT airport would be essentially unusable.
