US DOT Secures $41M to Keep Remote Airports Alive Despite Shutdown

The US Department of Transportation has secured $41 million in additional funding to continue financing the Essential Air Service (EAS) program through at least early November 2025.

When the federal government shutdown began on October 1, 2025, officials anticipated that critical EAS funding would run out by this upcoming Sunday, October 12.

The EAS program was established to subsidize flights to small, often economically unviable airports, ensuring that residents of remote communities have access to larger hubs.

Currently, the EAS subsidizes flights at almost 180 rural airports across all 50 states.

Without this new allocation, many remote areas would very soon lose essential air service, affecting thousands who rely on these flights for work, healthcare, and access to critical services.

The fallout from such disruptions includes restricted access to hospitals, schools, and markets, leading to severe economic downturns in communities highly dependent on these connections.

These interruptions could also trigger health crises in some of the country’s most vulnerable regions, underscoring the urgent need for ongoing government support amid the shutdown.

So far, in air travel, the shutdown has led to the furlough of 11,322 FAA workers and a staffing crisis among air traffic controllers.

Photo by Cari Kolipoki on Unsplash