Five U.P. airports could lose funding in Trump’s budget proposal

WASHINGTON D.C. — Another part of President Trump’s proposed cuts that could affect the Upper Peninsula is in The Department of Transportation budget.

The President’s budget would eliminate funding for the Essential Air Service, or EAS program. About 40 years ago, EAS was created to provide subsidized commercial air services to rural airports.

Eight airports in the state, including five in the U.P., would lose that funding. The U.P. Airports are located in Escanaba, Hancock and Houghton, Iron Mountain and Kingsford, Ironwood and Sault Ste. Marie.

Those five airports depend on a total of $14 million in subsidies. Cutting the program would cut approximately $175 million from the DOT budget.

You can view President Trump’s 2018 budget proposal by clicking HERE.