The Trump administration has announced that funds from a US government program that supports airline routes to remote airfields are set to expire as early as this weekend because of the ongoing government shutdown.
The US transportation department indicated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service program are expected to expire as early as this weekend after the agency moved unrelated funding from the Federal Aviation Administration as an advance.
Transportation officials is currently notifying carriers about the funding shortfall and informing communities about possible impacts.
The government allocates approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program.
Earlier this year, the White House proposed cutting financial support by $308m for the Essential Air Service, which has support among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions.
During the initial term of the former president, the White House proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers chose to boost funding instead.
The program typically supports two return flights 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 have air access and 112 locations across the remaining states and Puerto Rico that likely wouldn't have any commercial air connectivity.
“All states nationwide will be impacted,” the transportation chief commented during a media briefing, noting the program had bipartisan support. “We don't have the funding for that program moving forward.”
