Florida adds $6.25 million for signs and security at Palm Beach's Trump airport

The state is paying for the name it chose

Florida's Department of Transportation is giving Palm Beach County $6.25 million for signs and security at the airport renamed this year for President Donald Trump. It is all state money with no local match, and the airport says no property taxes or separate passenger fee pays for the name change. County commissioners accepted the grant Tuesday, WPBF and WFLX reported.

Why it matters: Palm Beach County's administrator says the state, not the county, made the name change, so the state should pay. The Legislature set aside $2.75 million, half the airport's first $5.5 million estimate. Airport spokesperson Rebeca Krogman says $3.5 million of the new state money is for security, the Sun Sentinel reports.

The story so far: Florida's Legislature passed the renaming along party lines in February, and Gov. Ron DeSantis signed it in March. The new name took effect July 9.

Two state grants, two agencies

The county's Nov. 10 agenda shows an amendment to its grant agreement with the state Department of Transportation. It adds $6,250,000 "for signage and security improvements" at President Donald J. Trump International Airport, "funded 100% by FDOT with no local match requirement." County rules let the airports director sign it, and the item went to the board to receive and file.

The same amendment adds $6.5 million for the first phase of a terminal and concourse update, and that money needs a $6.5 million county match. In all the amendment adds $12.75 million. The original agreement held $7.5 million for the terminal work.

The earlier money came through a different agency. A Senate funding request dated Feb. 12 asked for $5.5 million for "Palm Beach County Airport Renaming" and named the Department of Commerce to receive it. The budget DeSantis signed in June gave half, $2.75 million, CBS12 reported.

On Sept. 15, the county agenda asked the board to let staff sign a Department of Commerce grant of up to $2,750,000 for renaming costs "as required by Chapter 2026-15, Laws of Florida." It covers signs, marketing materials, supplies, uniforms and vehicle wraps, with no local match. Under that grant the county must also defend any challenge to its claim that some papers it gives the agency are confidential.

The Sun Sentinel, citing a statement from Krogman, says Commerce "has since stepped in with a $2.75 million grant for rebranding, while the state Department of Transportation is providing $3.5 million for security improvements." That split differs from the county agenda, which lists the whole $6.25 million as one Transportation Department line. We found no record that settles how the $6.25 million divides between signs and security.

Why the county asked

"The state conducted the name change, not the county. All we're simply asking is for the funds to meet what they decided," County Administrator Joseph Abruzzo said, the Sun Sentinel reported. He said the county can always seek more money in the next legislative session.

In August, the county's legislative affairs director, Alessandro Marchesani, told commissioners, "We're working on the other half." He said the airport needs security work including "fencing, cameras, bollards, comprehensive security improvements." Abruzzo said the county got more than 5,000 comments and complaints, many against the renaming. More than 40 went to local and federal law enforcement "out of an abundance of caution because of their concerning or hostile nature," he said.

The new grant means the county's airport fund does not have to cover the balance, WPBF reported. The airport's own page says the change "will be funded by airport revenues or other airport funding sources," with no property taxes and no separate passenger fee.

The name and the president

The FAA let the new name take effect Thursday, July 9, NPR reported. The president flies in and out of the airport often; it is a few miles from Mar-a-Lago, his oceanfront estate. More than 8 million passengers use the airport each year. Eric Trump said the president's plane was the first to land under the new name, at 5:01 a.m. that day.

County commissioners voted 4-3 in early May to approve the licensing agreement for the name, NPR reported. The same Nov. 10 agenda shows a $60,000 engagement letter with the law firm Troutman Pepper Locke for work on the naming rights and license agreement. In May the FAA also awarded the airport $10 million for new restrooms and other terminal space, which WLRN did not tie to the renaming.

Their side

Former state Rep. Meg Weinberger, a Republican from Palm Beach Gardens and one of the bill's original sponsors, told the Sun Sentinel she is happy the state was able to pay. Democrat Elizabeth Holmes beat Weinberger in Florida House District 94 on Nov. 3, about 50.3% to 48%, in unofficial results, CBS12 reported.

Other lawmakers have criticized the change, saying buildings should not be named for people who are still alive or that the money would be better used elsewhere, the Sun Sentinel reported. Trump Organization spokesperson Kimberly Benza has said "the President and his family will not receive any royalty, licensing fee, or financial consideration whatsoever from the airport renaming." Krogman wrote that the airport "cannot discuss security-related details, including specific improvements, vulnerabilities, or funding."

What's next

What's next: The Legislature's 2027 session opens Tuesday, March 2, where Abruzzo says the county can ask for more money if it needs it.

Sources we read

Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners agendas, Sept. 15 and Nov. 10, 2026. Florida Senate Local Funding Initiative Request 3790. WPBF, Nov. 11. WFLX, Nov. 11. South Florida Sun Sentinel, Nov. 12, and its Aug. 30 report reprinted by CBS12. CBS12, June 29 and Nov. 5. NPR, July 9. President Donald J. Trump International Airport, name change page. WLRN via WUSF, May 18. The Florida Senate.