Government Announces Funding for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Soon as Sunday
The Trump administration has stated that funds from a federal initiative that subsidizes commercial air service to remote airfields are set to expire as soon as Sunday due to the current federal funding lapse.
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 department transferred separate financial resources from the FAA as an advance.
The department is in the process of alerting airline operators about the funding shortfall and informing local areas about potential effects.
Federal authorities allocates approximately $350 million in annual funding for the program.
In recent months, the administration suggested reducing financial support by $308m for the air service program, which has support among Republican lawmakers because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions.
During the initial term of Donald Trump, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but lawmakers chose to boost financial support instead.
The program typically subsidizes two return flights each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or additional frequencies with smaller aircraft. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in the northern state receive service and 112 locations across the remaining states and the territory that otherwise might not receive any commercial air connectivity.
“Every state across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation chief stated during a media briefing, noting the service had bipartisan support. “We don't have the funding for that program moving forward.”
