US Says Funding for Air Service to Rural Areas to End as Soon as Sunday
The Trump administration has stated that financial support from a US government program that supports airline routes to rural airports are set to expire as soon as Sunday because of the ongoing government shutdown.
Federal transportation authorities indicated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service program are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the agency moved unrelated funding from the FAA as an advance.
Transportation officials is currently notifying airline operators about the funding shortfall and informing communities about potential effects.
Federal authorities allocates approximately $350 million in yearly financial support for the program.
Earlier this year, the White House suggested reducing funding by $308m for the Essential Air Service, which has support among Republican lawmakers because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions.
During the first presidency of Donald Trump, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but lawmakers opted to increase funding instead.
This initiative typically subsidizes two round trips each day using medium-sized planes – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in the northern state receive service and 112 communities across the remaining states and the territory that likely wouldn't have any commercial air connectivity.
“All states across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation chief commented during a press conference, observing the service had support from both parties. “We don't have the funding for that program going forward.”
