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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed permanent flight rules around President Donald J. Trump International Airport in Palm Beach, Florida, to secure the airspace near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate amid heightened concerns over unauthorized aircraft and rogue drones — moves that some say are insufficient to deter dedicated adversaries.
The regulatory action was initiated at the request of the U.S. Secret Service, in the “interest of national security,” the agency confirmed to Fox News Digital.
“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 said.
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The FAA has proposed permanent flight rules around Donald J. Trump International Airport in Palm Beach, Fla., to secure the airspace near President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images, File)
Under the proposed mandate, a Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) would be established.
Aircraft flying below 2,000 feet within one nautical mile of the designated zone would be required to obtain explicit clearance, maintain two-way contact with air traffic control, and continuously transmit an assigned transponder code.
Arriving and departing aircraft would also need to meet strict security criteria before entering the airspace.
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Drones are gaining in popularity, with companies and civilians using them more frequently in recent years. (iStock)
The heightened precautions follow multiple threats against Trump, including a June plot where five suspects attempted to coordinate an ambush using explosive-laden drones aimed at targeting him and other high-profile officials during the UFC Freedom 250 event at the White House.
However, drone experts argue that regulatory boundaries are “not good enough.”
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A sign welcomes drivers to the President Donald J. Trump International Airport on July 09, 2026, in Palm Beach, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
“When you look at what happened in Butler [Pennsylvania] it was discovered later on that the shooter had done very basic surveillance with a drone — a Chinese drone that you could buy off Amazon — before he conducted the attack against the president,” Brett Velicovich, a former U.S. Army special operations intelligence analyst and drone expert, told Fox News Digital.
Velicovich emphasized that government agencies must move faster to adopt active interdiction capabilities rather than relying solely on airspace designations.
“We’re going to have to have more counter-drone systems in place because it is not good enough simply for the FAA to send a message saying this area is a no-drone zone,” he added. “When you’re a bad actor, that doesn’t matter.”
The FAA proposal remains open for public comment through Oct. 2.
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The White House deferred questions regarding the security framework to the U.S. Secret Service, which did not immediately provide additional comment.
