npr.org
Emily Russell [Byline] / Juana Summers [Host] / Andre Dauphin / Charles Garrelts / Li'i Issacs / Ray Mundy / Elise Stefanik / David Rovinsky
03 July 2025
More than 180 airports in rural areas across the U.S. benefit from federal funding that guarantees commercial air service. That program might lose half its funding due to Trump administration cuts.
Residents in rural areas are depending on air service to travel for specialized medical care or higher education opportunities...But daily flights to D.C. are on average just 30% full.
President Trump's proposed budget points this out - that taxpayers end up subsidizing flights that are often far from full. Trump wants to cut funding in half, which could mean airlines would no longer serve some of these airports.
More: President Trump wants to slash subsidies for small airports across rural America : NPR
