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Federal officials has announced that financial support from a federal initiative that subsidizes airline routes to rural airports are scheduled to end as soon as Sunday due to the ongoing government shutdown.

The US transportation department stated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service initiative are likely to end as soon as Sunday after the department transferred separate financial resources from the FAA as an advance.

Transportation officials is in the process of alerting airline operators about the financial gap and alerting local areas about possible impacts.

The government provides approximately $350m in annual funding for the program.

Earlier this year, the White House proposed cutting financial support by $308m for the air service program, which enjoys popularity among GOP legislators because it provides services to predominantly Republican rural regions.

Throughout the initial term of the former president, the administration proposed eliminating the Essential Air Service program – but Congress chose to boost financial support instead.

This initiative typically supports two return flights each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or more frequent flights with smaller aircraft. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska have air access and 112 locations across the remaining states and the territory that likely wouldn't have any airline service.

“All states across the country will be impacted,” the transportation chief stated during a press conference, observing the service had bipartisan support. “We lack the money for that initiative moving forward.”