US Says Funding for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Soon as Sunday

Federal officials has announced that financial support from a federal initiative that supports airline routes to rural airports are set to expire as early as this weekend due to the ongoing government shutdown.

Federal transportation authorities stated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service program are likely to end as early as this weekend after the department moved separate financial resources from the Federal Aviation Administration as an advance.

Transportation officials is in the process of alerting airline operators about the funding shortfall and informing communities about potential effects.

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

Earlier this year, the administration proposed cutting financial support by $308m for the Essential Air Service, which has support among Republican lawmakers because it offers connectivity to rural, largely Republican areas.

Throughout the first presidency of the former president, the administration proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers opted to increase funding instead.

The program typically supports two round trips each day using medium-sized planes – or additional frequencies with smaller aircraft. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 communities in the northern state have air access and 112 locations across the other 49 states and Puerto Rico that otherwise might not receive any commercial air connectivity.

“All states across the country will be impacted,” the transportation secretary commented during a press conference, noting the program had support from both parties. “We don't have the funding for that initiative going forward.”