US Says Funding for Air Service to Rural Areas to End 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 set to expire as early as this weekend due to the ongoing government shutdown.
Federal transportation authorities stated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service initiative are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the agency transferred separate financial resources from the Federal Aviation Administration as an advance.
The department is in the process of alerting carriers about the financial gap and alerting local areas about potential effects.
Federal authorities provides approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program.
In recent months, the White House suggested reducing funding by $308m for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions.
During the first presidency of the former president, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but Congress opted to increase financial support instead.
The program typically subsidizes two round trips each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 areas in the northern state have air access and 112 locations across the remaining states and the territory that otherwise might not receive any airline service.
“All states across the country will be impacted,” the transportation secretary stated during a press conference, noting the program had support from both parties. “We don't have the money for that initiative moving forward.”