🔗 Share this article US Says Funding for Air Service to Rural Areas to Expire as Soon as Sunday Federal officials has stated that funds from a federal initiative that supports airline routes to remote airfields are set to expire as early as this weekend because of the current federal funding lapse. The US transportation department indicated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service program are likely to end as soon as Sunday after the department transferred separate financial resources from the Federal Aviation Administration as an advance. The department is currently notifying carriers about the financial gap and informing communities about possible impacts. The government allocates approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program. Earlier this year, the White House proposed cutting funding by $308 million 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 Donald Trump, the White House proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers opted to increase funding instead. The program typically subsidizes two round trips each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or more frequent flights with smaller planes. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska receive service and 112 communities across the remaining states and Puerto Rico that otherwise might not receive any airline service. “Every state across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary commented during a press conference, observing the program had support from both parties. “We don't have the funding for that initiative moving forward.”