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Federal officials has announced that financial support from a US government program that supports commercial air service to remote airfields are scheduled to end as early as this weekend because of the current federal funding lapse.

Federal transportation authorities indicated that subsidies under the Essential Air Service initiative are expected to expire as early as this weekend after the agency moved unrelated funding from the FAA as an advance.

Transportation officials is currently notifying carriers about the funding shortfall and alerting local areas about potential effects.

Federal authorities provides approximately $350m in yearly financial support for the program.

Earlier this year, the administration proposed cutting funding by $308m for the Essential Air Service, which enjoys popularity among Republican lawmakers because it provides services to predominantly Republican rural regions.

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 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 Puerto Rico that likely wouldn't have any airline service.

“Every state across the country will feel the effects,” the transportation secretary commented during a press conference, noting the service had support from both parties. “We lack the funding for that program going forward.”