Government Announces Funding for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Early as This Weekend
Federal officials has announced that funds from a US government program that subsidizes commercial air service to remote airfields are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday due to the current federal funding lapse.
Federal transportation authorities indicated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service program are likely to end as early as this weekend after the agency transferred separate financial resources from the FAA as an advance.
The department is currently notifying airline operators about the funding shortfall and informing communities about potential effects.
The government provides approximately $350 million in annual funding for the program.
Earlier this year, the White House proposed cutting funding by $308m for the air service program, which has support among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to predominantly Republican rural regions.
Throughout the first presidency of the former president, the administration suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but Congress opted to increase funding instead.
The program typically supports two return flights daily using medium-sized planes – or additional frequencies with smaller planes. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 areas in the northern state receive service and 112 communities across the remaining states and the territory that otherwise might not receive any commercial air connectivity.
“All states nationwide will be impacted,” the transportation secretary stated during a press conference, noting the service had support from both parties. “We don't have the money for that program going forward.”