Government Announces Funding for Rural Airline Service to End as Early as This Weekend
The Trump administration has stated that funds from a federal initiative that supports commercial air service 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 expected to expire as early as this weekend after the agency transferred unrelated funding from the FAA as an advance.
The department is currently notifying airline operators about the financial gap and alerting local areas about potential effects.
The government allocates approximately $350 million in yearly financial support for the program.
Earlier this year, the administration proposed cutting funding by $308 million for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to rural, largely Republican areas.
Throughout the first presidency of Donald Trump, the administration suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but Congress chose to boost funding instead.
The program typically subsidizes two return flights each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or additional frequencies with smaller planes. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in the northern state receive service 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 feel the effects,” the transportation chief stated during a press conference, observing the service had support from both parties. “We lack the money for that initiative going forward.”
