U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced today that the Department of Transportation has secured an additional $111 million funding to sustain the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, which was in danger of funding lapses due to the Democrat-led shutdown. Additional funding should prevent the program from lapsing until November 18, and USDOT may have authority to extend it beyond that date.
“Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are holding the country hostage so they can try to force the America people to fund healthcare for illegal immigrants. Democrats may have forgotten they work for the American people, but I am doing everything in my power to keep DOT programs like Essential Air Service going through the shutdown so no community loses access having access to vital services and opportunities. This Democrat shutdown is unsustainable. Schumer and Jeffries need to put political radicalism aside and reopen the government now,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy.
On October 6, 2025, the Department notified EAS-eligible communities as well as air carriers providing EAS of a potential future shortfall of appropriated funding for EAS contracts and Alternate Essential Air Service (AEAS) grants. Should funding lapse, the Department will suspend the contractual obligations of the air carriers providing EAS and will suspend reimbursement under AEAS grants until such time as appropriated funding is restored, and full budgetary authority is reinstated.
EAS provides subsidies to air carriers to operate out of rural or low-population airports for routes that are otherwise not profitable. These routes connect smaller and medium sized regions to larger airports, expanding these communities’ access to transportation services.
Click HERE to learn more about the Essential Air Service program.