🔗 Share this article

Federal officials has announced that funds from a federal initiative that supports airline routes to rural airports are scheduled to end as early as this weekend due to the ongoing government shutdown.

Federal transportation authorities stated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service initiative are likely to end as early as this weekend after the department transferred unrelated funding from the Federal Aviation Administration as an temporary measure.

Transportation officials is currently notifying airline operators about the funding shortfall and informing communities about possible impacts.

The government provides approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program.

Earlier this year, the White House proposed cutting financial support by $308m for the Essential Air Service, which has support among GOP legislators because it provides services to rural, largely Republican areas.

Throughout the first presidency of Donald Trump, the White House proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers opted to increase financial support instead.

This initiative typically supports two round trips daily using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or additional frequencies with smaller aircraft. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 communities in Alaska have air access and 112 locations across the other 49 states and the territory that likely wouldn't have any airline service.

“Every state nationwide will feel the effects,” the transportation chief stated during a media briefing, observing the program had bipartisan support. “We don't have the money for that program moving forward.”