🔗 Share this article Government Announces Funding for Rural Airline Service to Expire as Soon as Sunday Federal officials has stated that funds from a federal initiative that supports airline routes to rural airports are set to expire as soon as Sunday due to the ongoing government shutdown. 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 temporary measure. Transportation officials is currently notifying airline operators about the funding shortfall and informing communities about potential effects. Federal authorities provides approximately $350m in annual funding for the program. In recent months, the White House suggested reducing financial support by $308m for the Essential Air Service, which has support among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions. During the initial term of the former president, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but Congress opted to increase financial support instead. This initiative typically subsidizes 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 Alaska have air access and 112 communities across the other 49 states and the territory that likely wouldn't have any airline service. “All states across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation chief stated during a press conference, observing the service had bipartisan support. “We don't have the money for that program moving forward.”