Two U.S. lawmakers are pressing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to act swiftly on releasing federal funds to support airport businesses disrupted by temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) imposed during presidential visits.
Reps. Lois Frankel (D-Florida) and Thomas Kean, Jr. (R-New Jersey) sent a joint letter to Duffy and Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau, urging the agency to issue a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for grants to offset financial losses incurred by small businesses operating at general aviation airports near President Donald Trump’s residences in Palm Beach County, Florida, and Bedminster, New Jersey.
“When the president is at his residences in our districts, TFRs are put in place for his safety, effectively shutting down general aviation airports in our districts, including Lantana Airport, Somerset Airport, and Solberg-Hunterdon Airport,” the lawmakers wrote.
“These closures severely disrupt operations and result in millions in lost revenue for the small businesses that operate out of these airports.”
Congress has previously appropriated $3.5 million annually since Trump’s first term to reimburse affected businesses, but those funds remain inaccessible until the FAA issues the formal NOFO. With the fiscal year approaching its end, Frankel and Kean stressed the urgency of releasing the funds.
“We strongly urge the FAA to open a NOFO for this grant opportunity before funds expire at the end of the fiscal year,” they said.
Kean emphasised that TFRs, while essential for presidential security, should not come at the expense of local aviation businesses. “Protecting national security and supporting small businesses should not be mutually exclusive,” he said. “We’re asking the FAA to use already-allocated funds to provide the support these businesses need.”
Frankel added, “It’s the federal government—not local airports or small businesses—that should bear the cost of these necessary security measures.”
The call comes amid growing concern from general aviation operators about the operational and financial strain caused by frequent TFRs around presidential residences, especially as election season draws closer.