Palm Beach County commissioners have accepted $6.25 million in additional state funding for new signs and security upgrades at Palm Beach International Airport, which state lawmakers renamed this year for President Donald Trump.
The money covers a $2.75 million shortfall in the rebranding budget and adds $3.5 million for security work, according to the County Commission agenda. The county took the funds through a Florida Department of Transportation grant agreement and does not have to put up a local match for the rebranding and security portion. A separate $6.5 million grant for terminal and concourse renovations does require a dollar-for-dollar county match.
With another $2.75 million appropriated by lawmakers this year, the state has committed $5.5 million to the name change and $9 million overall when security is included. House lawmakers had first proposed covering the full $5.5 million rebranding cost in May, but the final budget followed the Senate’s $2.75 million figure. Gov. Ron DeSantis approved that budget in June. County officials began asking for the rest in August.
The renaming came through HB 919, which DeSantis signed in March. It gave the state authority over the names of Florida’s major commercial airports. Some Democrats argued the money would be better spent on local projects, and an amendment to bar Trump from profiting from the name through royalties or licenses failed on a party-line vote.
Commissioners approved a licensing agreement in May on a 4-3 vote. It gives Trump’s approval over marketing that references his biography and requires airport retailers to buy branded merchandise from vendors his company designates. The new name took effect July 9, and the airport code changed from PBI to DJT on Aug. 18.
