Government Announces Funding for Rural Airline Service to Expire as Early as This Weekend
Federal officials has announced that funds from a US government program that supports airline routes to rural airports are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday because of the ongoing government shutdown.
Federal transportation authorities indicated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service initiative are expected to expire as early as this weekend after the department moved separate financial resources from the Federal Aviation Administration as an advance.
Transportation officials is currently notifying airline operators about the funding shortfall and alerting communities about potential effects.
The government allocates approximately $350m in annual funding for the program.
In recent months, the White House proposed cutting financial support by $308m for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to rural, largely Republican areas.
Throughout the first presidency of the former president, the administration suggested terminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but Congress chose to boost financial support instead.
This initiative typically subsidizes two round trips daily using medium-sized planes – or more frequent flights with smaller planes. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 areas in the northern state 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 chief commented during a media briefing, observing the service had support from both parties. “We lack the money for that initiative moving forward.”
