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The Trump administration has announced that funds from a US government program that subsidizes commercial air service to rural airports are scheduled to end as early as this weekend due to the ongoing government shutdown.

The US transportation department indicated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service initiative are likely to end as early as this weekend after the department moved separate financial resources from the Federal Aviation Administration as an advance.

Transportation officials is currently notifying airline operators about the financial gap and informing local areas about potential effects.

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

In recent months, the White House proposed cutting funding by $308 million for the Essential Air Service, which has support among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to rural, largely Republican areas.

Throughout the first presidency of Donald Trump, the White House suggested terminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but lawmakers chose to boost funding instead.

This initiative typically subsidizes two round trips daily using medium-sized planes – or more frequent flights with smaller planes. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 communities in the northern state receive service and 112 locations across the other 49 states and Puerto Rico that likely wouldn't have any airline service.

“Every state nationwide will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary stated during a press conference, noting the program had support from both parties. “We don't have the funding for that initiative going forward.”