Government Announces Subsidies for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Early as This Weekend
The Trump administration has stated that financial support from a federal initiative that supports airline routes to remote airfields are scheduled to end as early as this weekend due to the ongoing government shutdown.
The US transportation department stated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service program are expected to expire as early as this weekend after the agency transferred separate financial resources from the FAA as an temporary measure.
Transportation officials is currently notifying airline operators about the funding shortfall and informing communities about possible impacts.
Federal authorities provides approximately $350 million in yearly financial support for the program.
Earlier this year, the administration suggested reducing financial support by $308 million for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions.
During the first presidency of the former president, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but lawmakers opted to increase financial support instead.
This initiative typically supports two return flights daily using medium-sized planes – or additional frequencies with smaller aircraft. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 communities in Alaska receive service and 112 communities across the remaining states and Puerto Rico that otherwise might not receive any commercial air connectivity.
“Every state across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary stated during a press conference, observing the program had bipartisan support. “We don't have the money for that initiative moving forward.”
