US Says Funding for Rural Airline Service to Expire as Early as This Weekend

The Trump administration has announced that financial support from a US government program that subsidizes commercial air service to rural airports are set to expire as soon as Sunday due to the ongoing government shutdown.

The US transportation department indicated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service initiative are likely to end as early as this weekend after the agency moved unrelated funding from the FAA as an advance.

The department is currently notifying airline operators about the funding shortfall and informing local areas about potential effects.

Federal authorities provides approximately $350 million in annual funding for the program.

Earlier this year, the administration suggested reducing funding by $308 million for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions.

Throughout the first presidency of Donald Trump, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers opted to increase funding instead.

This initiative typically subsidizes two round trips each day using medium-sized planes – or additional frequencies with smaller planes. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska have air access and 112 communities across the other 49 states and Puerto Rico that likely wouldn't have any commercial air connectivity.

“All states nationwide will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary stated during a press conference, noting the service had support from both parties. “We don't have the funding for that program moving forward.”