Government Announces Funding for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Early as This Weekend
Federal officials has stated that financial support from a US government program that supports commercial air service to rural airports are scheduled to end as early as this weekend because of the ongoing government shutdown.
Federal transportation authorities indicated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service program are likely to end as soon as Sunday after the department moved unrelated funding from the Federal Aviation Administration as an advance.
Transportation officials is currently notifying carriers about the funding shortfall and alerting local areas about potential effects.
The government allocates approximately $350 million in yearly financial support for the program.
Earlier this year, the White House suggested reducing funding by $308m for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions.
During the initial term of Donald Trump, the administration proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but Congress opted to increase funding instead.
The program typically supports two round trips each day using medium-sized planes – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska receive service and 112 locations across the other 49 states and Puerto Rico that likely wouldn't have any airline service.
“All states across the country will be impacted,” the transportation secretary commented during a press conference, observing the program had bipartisan support. “We lack the money for that initiative moving forward.”