Lois Frankel raises community concerns about Mar-a-Lago air space restrictions to Secret Service

Can Palm Beach ever host regular air traffic while President Donald Trump serves?

The Secret Service, as it protects a Commander in Chief who already survived an attempted assassination on the campaign trail, wants to ground flights within a nautical mile of Mar-a-Lago at all times. But U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel at a briefing with the Secret Service stressed a need to balance out community needs with national security.

“My goal is to facilitate a solution that keeps the President and our country safe, using flight restrictions that impact the least number of people in the safest, fairest way possible,” Frankel wrote in a memo on the briefing.

The West Palm Democrat represents the nation’s most prominent Republican politician in Congress. But she said partisanship has nothing to do with conversations with the Secret Service, talks that started in Trump’s first term but which have more significance in a second term when the President lists Florida as his full-time home.

Frankel said she could not discuss many specific issues that were covered because it was a classified briefing that touched on security issues. But the broad restrictions on flights were the subject at hand.

As of Oct. 20, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has enforced a 1-nautical-mile no-fly zone around Mar-a-Lago at all times. That’s a change based on Secret Service guidance. Before now, the FAA only restricted air space when the President was at the property.

Under new restrictions, all flights at Palm Beach International Airport now must fly over neighborhoods to the northeast, even if that’s not the fastest route. That has created noise and environmental concerns for neighborhoods now under the constant shadow of planes.

When Trump is in town, the radius steps up to 30 nautical miles from Mar-a-Lago.

Frankel’s Office said that ends up impacting 5,000 of her constituents living in 2,200 homes near the President’s estate.

“In the two months since these restrictions were put in place, the Palm Beach County Department of Airports has received hundreds of complaints. Community concerns include increased noise and air pollution, lower property values, and potential flight delays,” Frankel’s memo reads.

The same restrictions also apply around Trump Tower in New York City, the only other property listed as an official non-government home for Trump.

The restrictions echo ones in place around the White House in Washington, D.C., where the 30-nautical-mile restriction exists at all times.

Frankel said she told the Secret Service that the rules have detrimentally impacted the Palm Beach community. The Secret Service in turn noted that it only makes recommendations to the FAA on rules, which holds the ultimate authority on decisions.

Frankel said she has requested a follow-up meeting with that agency as well. She also encouraged the Secret Service to discuss the issue with local government officials and leaders.

“I expressed to the Secret Service that the community understands that security is essential for the President, but the community does not understand why the new restrictions must be in place when the President is not in Palm Beach County,” Frankel wrote.

Notably, other properties frequented by Trump, including a residence in Bedminster New Jersey, do not have any restrictions unless Trump is there in person.

Frankel sent a letter to the FAA with U.S. Rep. Tom Kean, the New Jersey Republican whose district includes Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, asking the federal government to reimburse local businesses and airports impacted by temporary flight restrictions.

“While Temporary Flight Restrictions are critical for the President’s safety, they can also impose significant financial hardships on local airports and aviation businesses,” Kean said in April.

Those costs are significantly more in Palm Beach now that constant restrictions are in place.