US government shutdown threatens essential air services as deadline looms
October 7, 2025
The ongoing US government shutdown is putting essential air services to remote communities at risk, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned, as federal funding that supports flights to smaller airports is set to run out within days.
Speaking at Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday, Duffy said the Essential Air Service (EAS) programme – which subsidises airline operations to many small and rural airports across the United States – faces suspension as the shutdown continues.
The programme, which ensures basic air connectivity for communities that would otherwise be isolated, could lose its funding as early as Sunday.
“That money runs out this Sunday. So there’s many small communities across the country that will now no longer have the resources to make sure they have air service in their community,” Duffy said.
Rural connections at risk
Established in the aftermath of US airline deregulation in 1978, the EAS provides a lifeline for towns and regions where commercial flights are not commercially viable.
The scheme enjoys bipartisan political support and is particularly crucial in states such as Alaska, where air transport is often the only practical means of travel between communities.
Duffy warned that the lapse in funding could have immediate effects for regional carriers and local economies.
Smaller airports rely heavily on the EAS to sustain passenger services, enabling access to healthcare, education, and trade links that would otherwise be cut off.
The secretary’s remarks came as the wider aviation system continues to feel the strain of the shutdown.
Air traffic controllers, classed as essential employees, remain on duty but have not been paid since the funding lapse began. Duffy said the uncertainty is placing “more stress on air traffic controllers who already have an extremely stressful job,” and warned that staffing shortages are beginning to affect flight operations.
“Now what they think about as they’re controlling our airspace is, how am I going to pay my mortgage? How do I make my car payment? I have a couple kids at home. How do I put food on the table? I’m working six days a week. Do I have to take a second job and drive Uber when I’m already exhausted from doing a job that’s already stressful to think about how I can make extra money because the government may not provide me a paycheck?” Duffy said.
By Monday evening, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that staffing shortages had caused delays at several airports, including Newark, Denver, and Burbank.
In California, no controllers were on duty at Burbank Airport on Monday night, resulting in delays averaging two and a half hours.
What is the Essential Air Service programme?
The Essential Air Service (EAS) is a US federal programme created in 1978 following airline deregulation to preserve commercial air links for small and rural communities.
When route and fare controls were lifted, many towns faced the loss of scheduled air services deemed unprofitable by major carriers
The EAS was introduced to ensure these communities continued to receive a minimum level of connectivity to the national air network.
Administered by the US Department of Transportation (DOT), the programme guarantees air service to eligible communities by setting service standards such as destination hubs, flight frequency, and minimum seat capacity.
Where commercial viability cannot be achieved, the DOT provides financial subsidies to airlines to maintain operations.
Today, the EAS supports flights to dozens of remote communities across the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico.
Most routes are served by smaller regional aircraft with 30 to 50 seats, connecting isolated areas to larger hub airports.
Eligibility is determined by factors such as distance from major airports and passenger demand.
Contracts for EAS routes are typically awarded through a competitive bidding process, usually lasting two years.
The EAS functions as a lifeline for rural America, ensuring that essential air connectivity endures where market forces alone would not sustain it.
