Airport Alert: DOT Amends Earlier EAS Notice, Indicating Funding Available Through November 2

October 8, 2025

In a notice issued this afternoon, the Department of Transportation amended its earlier notice from October 6 to indicated that additional funding has been secured to support the Essential Air Service and Alternative Essential Air Service programs and maintain subsidy and grant reimbursements through November 2. The notice relays that air carriers and communities must continue to fulfill all obligations under their EAS contracts and AEAS grant agreements until DOT notifies them otherwise. The notice also indicates that should the shutdown continue beyond November 2, DOT will provide additional notice to air carriers and communities.

DOT Secretary Sean Duffy issued a press release today that said the agency secured $41 million in additional funding "to prevent the program from lapsing into early November." The statement also indicated that EAS "connects our smaller and medium sized communities with larger airports, expanding these communities’ access to work opportunities, medical necessities, and commercial goods that would otherwise be inaccessible."

As the shutdown has reached its eighth day, both sides remain dug in on their previous positions, with the White House and congressional Republicans pushing for a “clean” continuing funding resolution through November 21 and House and Senate Democrats arguing for a shorter extension through October 31 with health care-related changes to extend expiring Affordable Care Act tax credits and reverse provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that reduced Medicaid funding. All the action at this point remains in the Senate, where leaders are trying to garner the 60 votes necessary to pass a measure to reopen the government. In repeated votes, both the Republican and Democratic proposals continue to fall short of the 60-vote threshold necessary to pass legislation through that chamber. The House of Representatives remains out of session awaiting Senate action.

As we have previously reported and as you know full-well, affected FAA and TSA employees continue to work without pay. The specifics of operations for FAA are outlined in the most recent shutdown memo from DOT. TSA operations are outlined in the shutdown memo from DHS.     

We will keep you apprised of any relevant updates on efforts to resolve the shutdown.