Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel is urging fellow members of Congress to ask the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to work more closely with Palm Beach County residents following changes to airspace restrictions surrounding President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club, a site that remains under heightened federal protection.

Frankel addressed the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on Jan. 14 regarding the FAA’s updated temporary flight restrictions over Mar-a-Lago. The revised flight paths took effect on Oct. 20 and are scheduled to remain in place through Oct. 20, 2026, regardless of whether President Trump is present at the property.

Previously, the no-fly restrictions were activated only when President Trump was at Mar-a-Lago. That policy changed last fall after the U.S. Secret Service, which is responsible for protecting the president, requested expanded and more consistent airspace controls as part of its security mission.

During her remarks, Frankel acknowledged the importance of Mar-a-Lago and the necessity of protecting President Trump, describing the property as “a beautiful place” and emphasizing that local residents understand the need for strong presidential security measures.

However, she said the FAA’s implementation of the restrictions resulted in aircraft arriving at and departing from Palm Beach International Airport being rerouted farther east over a wider residential area. According to Frankel, the expanded routes now affect a larger number of homes, schools and businesses than under the previous configuration.

Frankel noted that the earlier flight paths were established after extensive environmental review and impacted fewer residents. She cited figures indicating that the former routes affected roughly 5,000 people and 2,200 homes, while the current configuration affects approximately 21,000 residents and 11,000 homes.

Residents have raised concerns about aircraft noise, environmental effects, safety and potential impacts on property values. Still, Frankel emphasized that the issue is not about opposing security for President Trump.

“Nobody is disputing that protecting the president is essential,” Frankel said. “That is beyond politics.”

She framed the discussion as a balance between maintaining strong security protocols and minimizing community disruption, asking whether both goals can be achieved simultaneously.

Frankel said she hopes to facilitate discussions between the Secret Service, the FAA, and local officials to explore possible adjustments or mitigation strategies, while acknowledging that federal law and national security requirements govern presidential airspace protections.

The FAA’s actions align with long-standing federal authority to secure airspace around locations associated with presidential protection. The Secret Service has consistently emphasized that such measures are driven by threat assessments and are designed to ensure the safety of the president, law enforcement personnel and the public.

President Trump has repeatedly stated that security decisions surrounding Mar-a-Lago are made by federal professionals based on safety needs, not political considerations.