🔗 Share this article Government Announces Funding for Rural Airline Service to Expire as Early as This Weekend The Trump administration has stated that financial support from a federal initiative that subsidizes airline routes to rural airports are set to expire as early as this weekend due to the ongoing government shutdown. Federal transportation authorities stated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service program are expected to expire as early as this weekend after the agency moved unrelated funding from the Federal Aviation Administration as an advance. The department is in the process of alerting airline operators about the financial gap and informing communities about possible impacts. The government allocates approximately $350m in annual funding for the program. Earlier this year, 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 predominantly Republican rural regions. During the initial term of the former president, the White House proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but Congress chose to boost funding instead. The program typically supports two return flights daily using medium-sized planes – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 communities in the northern state have air access and 112 locations across the other 49 states and Puerto Rico that otherwise might not receive any airline service. “All states across the country will be impacted,” the transportation chief stated during a media briefing, noting the program had support from both parties. “We lack the money for that initiative moving forward.”