What does 'essential' really mean?

I was contacted last night by one of our specialists at Community Hospital, concerned about the future of Essential Air Service in McCook. The short answer is that while the rest of the air transportation system will keep running during the government shutdown, EAS could run out of money in early November.

During a shutdown, employees of the Transportation Security Administration and Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control system are deemed “essential.” They are required to keep working without pay, maintain airport security, and keep the national airspace system operating. It’s a stressful arrangement, made worse by a shortage of more than 3,500 controllers nationwide. But “essential” in this case means the work continues even if the checks don’t.

The “essential” in Essential Air Service means something very different. McCook’s commercial air service is not a market-driven operation but a federally subsidized one, created through the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978. When airlines were freed to fly where they wished, the United States Department of Transportation began subsidizing flights to small communities to ensure they wouldn’t be left without commercial service. Today, EAS supports two round-trips per day from communities like McCook to larger hubs. If not for EAS, McCook might not have any scheduled air service.

The program came close to losing funding earlier this month when the Department warned that a shortfall could force the suspension of contracts and grants. On October 8, Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced the Department had secured $41 million to keep the program afloat through early November. It’s a temporary fix that buys time, not certainty in what is anticipated to be a historically long shutdown.

Duffy also chose to frame the issue in partisan terms, blaming Chuck Schumer for the funding crisis. That may be politically satisfying for some, but it obscures a more important truth: reliable air service is not a partisan luxury. It’s economic infrastructure. If we’re going to play political football with something this basic, perhaps it’s time to remind Nebraska’s congressional delegation that rural commerce depends on these connections. Perhaps they could even petition the OMB for an emergency reallocation, as was done to keep military pay flowing during the 2013 shutdown.

They’ve supported it before. Representative Adrian Smith wrote in 2012 that Essential Air Service “provides airline service to smaller, rural areas and ensures access to the national transportation system.” He urged reform, not elimination. Senator Deb Fischer has repeatedly advocated for the program, including leading a 2024 Senate letter urging continued support and questioning FAA nominees on its importance to rural Nebraska. Senator Pete Ricketts has praised broader aviation investments but has not taken a public position specifically on EAS.

It’s a good moment to reflect on the odd contrast between who and what gets labeled “essential.” TSA officers and air traffic controllers are considered essential, so they keep working. Essential Air Service, which actually has the word “essential” in its name, can simply run out of money.

That irony doesn’t make the stakes any less serious. Air transportation is a vital part of McCook’s economic development, connecting this community to the rest of the country. It deserves attention, not neglect. We’ll continue to watch this closely in the weeks ahead.