US Says Funding for Rural Airline Service to Expire as Soon as Sunday
The Trump administration has stated that funds 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.
Federal transportation authorities indicated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service initiative are expected to expire as early as this weekend after the agency moved unrelated funding from the Federal Aviation Administration as an temporary measure.
The department is currently notifying airline operators about the funding shortfall and informing local areas about potential effects.
Federal authorities allocates approximately $350 million in yearly financial support for the program.
Earlier this year, the White House suggested reducing financial support by $308 million for the Essential Air Service, which has support among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to rural, largely Republican areas.
During the first presidency of the former president, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers chose to boost funding instead.
The program typically subsidizes two round trips daily using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or more frequent flights with smaller planes. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 areas 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 nationwide 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.”
