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Federal officials has stated that funds from a federal initiative that supports airline routes to remote airfields are scheduled to end as early as this weekend due to the ongoing government shutdown.

Federal transportation authorities stated that financial assistance under the Essential Air Service initiative are expected to expire as soon as Sunday after the agency moved separate financial resources from the Federal Aviation Administration as an temporary measure.

The department is currently notifying carriers about the funding shortfall and alerting local areas about possible impacts.

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

In recent months, the administration proposed cutting financial support by $308 million for the Essential Air Service, which enjoys popularity among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to rural, largely Republican areas.

Throughout the first presidency of the former president, the administration suggested terminating the Essential Air Service initiative – but lawmakers chose to boost funding instead.

The program typically supports two return flights each day using 30- to 50-seat aircraft – or additional frequencies with smaller aircraft. According to the department that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska receive service and 112 locations across the other 49 states and the territory that likely wouldn't have any airline service.

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