🔗 Share this article US Says Funding for Rural Airline Service to Expire as Soon as Sunday The Trump administration has stated that financial support from a US government program that subsidizes airline routes to rural airports are set to expire as soon as Sunday because of the current federal funding lapse. Federal transportation authorities stated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service program are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the department moved separate financial resources from the FAA as an advance. Transportation officials is currently notifying airline operators about the financial gap and informing communities about possible impacts. The government provides approximately $350 million in yearly financial support for the program. Earlier this year, the administration suggested reducing funding by $308m for the air service program, which has support among Republican lawmakers because it offers connectivity to rural, largely Republican areas. During the first presidency of the former president, the White House proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but Congress opted to increase financial support instead. This initiative typically subsidizes two round trips each day using medium-sized planes – or additional frequencies with smaller planes. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 communities in the northern state have air access and 112 locations across the other 49 states and the territory that likely wouldn't have any commercial air connectivity. “Every state across the country will be impacted,” the transportation chief commented during a media briefing, noting the service had bipartisan support. “We lack the funding for that initiative moving forward.”