Government Announces Subsidies for Rural Airline Service to End as Soon as Sunday
The Trump administration has stated that financial support from a federal initiative that subsidizes commercial air service to rural airports are set to expire as soon as Sunday due to the ongoing government shutdown.
Federal transportation authorities stated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service program are likely to end as soon as Sunday after the department transferred unrelated funding from the FAA as an temporary measure.
Transportation officials is in the process of alerting airline operators about the financial gap and informing local areas about possible impacts.
Federal authorities provides approximately $350 million in annual funding for the program.
In recent months, the White House proposed cutting funding by $308 million for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among GOP legislators because it provides services to predominantly Republican rural regions.
During the first presidency of the former president, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers chose to boost funding instead.
This initiative typically subsidizes two return flights daily using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or more frequent flights with smaller planes. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 communities in the northern state receive service and 112 locations across the other 49 states and the territory that otherwise might not receive any commercial air connectivity.
“All states across the country will be impacted,” the transportation secretary commented during a media briefing, noting the program had bipartisan support. “We don't have the money for that program going forward.”
