🔗 Share this article

Federal officials has announced that funds from a US government program that subsidizes airline routes to rural airports are set to expire as early as this weekend due to the ongoing government shutdown.

The US transportation department stated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service program are likely to end as soon as Sunday after the agency moved unrelated funding from the FAA as an advance.

Transportation officials is in the process of alerting airline operators about the funding shortfall and informing communities about possible impacts.

Federal authorities allocates approximately $350 million in annual funding for the program.

In recent months, the administration proposed cutting financial support by $308 million for the Essential Air Service, which has support among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to predominantly Republican rural regions.

During the first presidency of Donald Trump, the administration suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers chose to boost funding instead.

The program typically subsidizes two round trips daily using medium-sized planes – or additional frequencies with smaller planes. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska have air access and 112 locations across the other 49 states and the territory that likely wouldn't have any commercial air connectivity.

“All states across the country will be impacted,” the transportation secretary stated during a media briefing, noting the program had bipartisan support. “We don't have the money for that program going forward.”