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The Trump administration has announced that financial support from a federal initiative that supports airline routes to rural airports are set to expire as soon as Sunday due to the current federal funding lapse.

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

Transportation officials is in the process of alerting carriers about the financial gap and informing communities about potential effects.

Federal authorities provides approximately $350 million in annual funding for the program.

Earlier this year, the administration suggested reducing funding by $308 million for the Essential Air Service, which enjoys popularity among GOP legislators because it offers connectivity to predominantly Republican rural regions.

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

The program typically subsidizes two round trips each day using medium-sized planes – or additional frequencies with smaller aircraft. Officials report that under the program, approximately 65 areas in Alaska receive service and 112 locations across the other 49 states and Puerto Rico that otherwise might not receive any commercial air connectivity.

“Every state across the country will be impacted,” the transportation chief commented during a media briefing, noting the service had support from both parties. “We lack the funding for that program going forward.”