The Essential Air Service program is on the Trump administration’s radar for budget cuts, with plans to cut the program by around $308 million.
This proposal was included in the White House’s “Skinny Budget,” which would cut billions in federal spending if enacted by Congress.
In its discretionary funding request for 2026, the Trump administration claims that the EAS program “funnels taxpayer dollars to airlines to subsidize half-empty flights from airports that are within easy commuting distance from each other, while also failing to effectively provide assistance to most rural air travelers.”
The administration further states that spending on these subsidies is “out of control.”
Duffy Comments
The Department of Transportation oversees the nearly $400 million program. It selects air carriers to serve rural communities and issues subsidies.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was grilled in a Senate hearing on Thursday; several Senators asked about the department’s plans for the 47-year-old program.
“I anticipated I was going to get a number of questions from virtually everyone on this panel about this program,” he said. “I understand your concern. I am going to work on trying to bring efficiencies to the program, [and] bring costs down.”
Over 160 airports qualify under the EAS program, and about 60 of those are in Alaska.
Duffy added that he understood “how meaningful” the program is to many communities but that he will be looking at changes. He said the DOT plans to work with senators on these shake-ups, including “how we think we can do more with less.”
Sen. Susan Collins responded to Duffy during the hearing, saying, “I think you’re going to need to do more with more.” Collins represents Maine, which has some of the most valuable Essential Air Service contracts in the Lower 48.
