US Says Subsidies for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Soon as Sunday
The Trump administration has stated that financial support from a US government program that subsidizes commercial air service to rural airports are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday because of the ongoing government shutdown.
Federal transportation authorities stated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service initiative are likely to end as soon as Sunday after the agency transferred separate financial resources from the FAA as an temporary measure.
The department is in the process of alerting carriers about the financial gap and alerting communities about possible impacts.
The government provides approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program.
In recent months, the White House suggested reducing funding by $308 million for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it offers connectivity to rural, largely Republican areas.
Throughout the first presidency of Donald Trump, the administration suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but Congress chose to boost funding instead.
The program typically supports two round trips daily using medium-sized planes – or additional frequencies with smaller aircraft. 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 likely wouldn't have any commercial air connectivity.
“All states across the country will be impacted,” the transportation secretary stated during a press conference, observing the service had support from both parties. “We don't have the funding for that initiative moving forward.”