The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has put forward a proposal to establish permanent flight rules around Donald J. Trump International Airport in Palm Beach, Florida. This measure aims to secure the airspace near Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, responding to heightened concerns over unauthorized aircraft and rogue drones. The initiative came at the request of the U.S. Secret Service, emphasizing national security.

An FAA spokesperson confirmed, “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).”

Based on this proposal, a Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) would be established. Aircraft operating below 2,000 feet within one nautical mile of the designated zone must obtain explicit clearance, maintain two-way communication with air traffic control, and continuously transmit an assigned transponder code. Additionally, arriving and departing aircraft would need to meet rigorous security standards before entering the airspace.

This move follows several threats against Trump, including a June attempt by five individuals to use drones armed with explosives to target him and other officials during a White House event. Despite these measures, drone experts like Brett Velicovich, a former U.S. Army special operations intelligence analyst, suggest that regulatory boundaries may fall short in deterring determined adversaries.

As drone usage becomes more common, both by corporations and civilians, experts argue for the need to enhance active interdiction capabilities rather than relying solely on airspace designations. Velicovich highlighted, “Government agencies must move faster to adopt active interdiction capabilities. When you’re a bad actor, regulatory messages don’t matter.”

The FAA’s proposal remains open for public comment until October 2. The White House deferred queries about the security measures to the U.S. Secret Service, which did not provide further remarks.