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Federal officials announce additional funding for Essential Air Service

The Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport has been served by Contour Airlines under Alternate Essential Air Service grants since 2018. (File Photo)

WILLIAMSTOWN — The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Wednesday evening that money has been secured to continue funding the Essential Air Service program through at least early November if the federal government shutdown continues.

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced in a press release that the department “has secured $41 million in additional funding to sustain the Essential Air Service (EAS) program, which was in danger of funding lapses due to the Democrat-led shutdown.” The release did not specify from where the money came, and additional information was not immediately available.

The DOT on Monday notified Essential Air Service-eligible communities and air carriers providing the federally subsidized flights of a potential shortfall for EAS contracts and Alternate EAS grants should the shutdown continue beyond Sunday.

The Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport has been served by Contour Airlines under Alternate Essential Air Service grants since 2018. Although the DOT selected Air Wisconsin to provide commercial service to and from the local airport under a new EAS contract, that company withdrew and Contour is continuing to offer flights under an air charter service agreement until a new carrier is selected.

Contour has made a bid for the service, along with SkyWest. A timeline for the selection is unclear, especially in light of the shutdown.

Contour released a statement Monday saying it planned to continue its flights during the shutdown. Carriers who provide service after the funding lapses are expected to be paid once the government reopens, but that is not guaranteed.

Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Airport Manager Ben Auville said Wednesday evening he notified board members of the DOT’s announcement.

“I think that this is a smart move on behalf of the DOT,” he said.

According to the release, Essential Air Service subsidizes carriers to operate out of rural airports for routes that are not profitable, connecting smaller and medium-sized communities with larger airports.

“The Trump Administration is doing its part to keep critical federal services like EAS hanging on through Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries’ radical shutdown,” Duffy said in the release, referencing the Senate and House minority leaders, respectively. “Democrats are putting their wish list for illegal immigrants over the needs of smaller, American communities relying on services like EAS to connect their rural neighborhoods with vital services and opportunities. Democrats must reopen the government to ensure these necessary programs don’t lapse.”

The government shutdown is now in its second week as Republicans and Democrats in Congress remain at odds over an agreement to fund federal operations. Senate Republicans have voted in favor of a continuing resolution to keep funding at existing levels through Nov. 21. Despite having a majority, the measure, which passed the House of Representatives, has not garnered the 60 votes needed to move forward.

Democrats have demanded an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies due to expire at the end of the year as part of any deal, saying failure to do so would cause massive increases in insurance costs for those receiving them. Republicans have said they’re willing to negotiate on that after the government reopens.

Democrats are also seeking to roll back future cuts to Medicaid in the tax-and-spending bill passed earlier this year. Some Republicans have claimed the Democrats’ goal is to provide free health care to people in the country illegally, although those individuals are not eligible for Medicaid or ACA subsidies.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.

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