US President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2027 budget proposal targets the Essential Air Service (EAS) program with a $372 million reduction in discretionary funding. The White House budget, released April 3, 2026, argues the program has strayed from its original intent, funding half-empty flights between nearby airports while spending more than doubled between 2021 and 2025.
The administration proposes reining in subsidies through changes to eligibility rules and rates without eliminating EAS entirely, aiming to maintain rural air access. Details on specific reforms remain unspecified, leaving airlines, airports and communities uncertain about potential impacts.
This marks the second consecutive year of such proposals; Congress rejected a similar cut for fiscal 2026, approving $514 million instead and barring abrupt contract terminations by the Department of Transportation.
DOT describes EAS as ensuring minimum scheduled service for communities at risk after airline deregulation. As of fall 2024, it supports 177 communities, including 65 in Alaska and 112 elsewhere, often with two daily round trips on 30- to 50-seat aircraft.
The budget contends some routes no longer justify subsidies and fail rural travelers effectively. EAS advocates argue it preserves vital links for remote areas with poor road access.