Government Announces Funding for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Early as This Weekend
The Trump administration has stated that financial support from a US government program that supports commercial air service to rural airports are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday due to the current federal funding lapse.
The US transportation department indicated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service initiative are expected to expire as early as this weekend after the department moved separate financial resources from the FAA as an advance.
The department is in the process of alerting airline operators about the financial gap and alerting local areas about potential effects.
Federal authorities allocates approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program.
In recent months, the administration proposed cutting funding by $308m for the Essential Air Service, which has support among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to rural, largely Republican areas.
During the initial term of Donald Trump, the administration suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers opted to increase funding instead.
The program typically subsidizes two round trips daily using medium-sized planes – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska receive service and 112 locations across the remaining states and Puerto Rico that likely wouldn't have any commercial air connectivity.
“All states across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary commented during a press conference, noting the program had bipartisan support. “We don't have the money for that program going forward.”
