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The Trump administration has stated that financial support from a federal initiative that supports commercial air service to remote airfields are set to expire as early as this weekend due to the current federal funding lapse.

Federal transportation authorities stated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service program are likely to end as soon as Sunday after the agency moved unrelated funding from the FAA as an temporary measure.

The department is in the process of alerting carriers about the funding shortfall and informing communities about potential effects.

The government provides approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program.

Earlier this year, the White House suggested reducing funding by $308 million for the Essential Air Service, which has support among GOP legislators because it provides services to rural, largely Republican areas.

During the initial term of Donald Trump, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service program – but lawmakers chose to boost funding instead.

This initiative typically subsidizes two round trips each day using medium-sized planes – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska have air access and 112 locations across the remaining states and Puerto Rico that otherwise might not receive any commercial air connectivity.

“Every state nationwide will be impacted,” the transportation secretary stated during a press conference, observing the program had bipartisan support. “We don't have the funding for that program moving forward.”