🔗 Share this article US Says Subsidies for Rural Airline Service to Expire as Early as This Weekend Federal officials has announced that funds from a US government program that subsidizes airline routes to rural airports are set to expire as early as this weekend due to the ongoing government shutdown. The US transportation department stated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service program are expected to expire as early as this weekend after the department moved unrelated funding from the Federal Aviation Administration as an advance. Transportation officials is currently notifying carriers about the funding shortfall and alerting communities about possible impacts. Federal authorities allocates approximately $350 million in annual funding for the program. Earlier this year, the administration 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. During the initial term of Donald Trump, the White House proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service program – but Congress chose to boost funding instead. The program typically supports two round trips daily using medium-sized planes – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 areas in the northern state receive service and 112 communities across the remaining states and Puerto Rico that likely wouldn't have any commercial air connectivity. “All states across the country will be impacted,” the transportation chief commented during a press conference, observing the program had support from both parties. “We lack the funding for that program going forward.”