🔗 Share this article Government Announces Funding for Rural Airline Service to Expire as Early as This Weekend Federal officials has announced that funds from a federal initiative that supports commercial air service to rural airports are set to expire as early as this weekend due to the current federal funding lapse. The US transportation department stated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service initiative are likely to end as early as this weekend after the department moved unrelated funding from the FAA as an temporary measure. The department is in the process of alerting carriers 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 proposed cutting financial support by $308m for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions. Throughout the first presidency of Donald Trump, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but Congress chose to boost financial support instead. The program typically subsidizes two round trips daily using medium-sized planes – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska have air access and 112 communities across the remaining states and Puerto Rico that otherwise might not receive any commercial air connectivity. “All states nationwide will be impacted,” the transportation chief stated during a media briefing, observing the program had bipartisan support. “We lack the money for that initiative going forward.”