North Carolina House Democrats have been outspoken about the impacts of the slash-and-burn style cutting from the Federal Government in recent weeks. North Carolinians are understandably upset by this and the current and future effects this approach will have on communities across our state.
“North Carolinians expect our government to be deliberate about managing federal programs and workers, but this recent spate of cuts and layoffs is anything but that,” House Democratic Leader Robert Reives said. “House Democrats will not be quiet when we know the devastating impact these cuts can have on our communities, institutions of higher learning and small businesses. I am especially concerned about any federal action that limits the ability of Western North Carolina to recover from Helene, while we continue to wait for our federal partners to approve sorely-needed funding.”
In an op-ed written for the News & Observer, Rep. Zack Hawkins warned that gutting the Department of Education would ravage public education:
“We’re failing our public schools. Razing the Department of Education will leave millions of school children in a much worse place than they are today. Significant cuts to the Department of Education will go far beyond “reforming” public schools, creating large gaps in the fabric of our communities and education system.
“The Department of Education administers grants and financial aid for our families, including through loans and Pell Grants for low-income students. The department also oversees civil rights programs and holds America’s schools responsible for upholding their promise to all students, not just a select few. As a parent of two boys with autism and co-chair of the General Assembly’s IDD Caucus, I personally know the impacts of losing funding for programs that support special education teachers.”
Talking to NBC News, Rep. Julie von Haefen said that North Carolina is unprepared for potential cuts at the Department of Education:
“And in North Carolina, we’re at a really precarious point in our state funding — the loss of federal funding would really be devastating. It’s kind of a perfect storm right now, because last year, we greatly expanded our private school voucher program.” she added.
Rep. Rodney Pierce shared his concerns about the educator pipeline in the Daily Herald:
“Our public schools are struggling, particularly in eastern North Carolina,” Rep. Pierce said in the release. “These federal cuts will have an outsized impact on our community and the educator pipeline in North Carolina. We need to be doing more to incentivize young people to enter the teaching profession. As an educator myself, I understand the need for investment in the future. This hits home for me and my community, and we cannot stop calling out the harm these cuts will have.”
In a committee meeting, Rep. Allen Buansi noted that cuts to Medicaid would have a drastic impact on North Carolina, particularly with Medicaid expansion helping more than 600,000 North Carolinians access health care, NC Newsline reports:
Rep. Allen Buansi (D-Orange), a member of the House health budget committee, said he is “gravely concerned,” about potential federal cuts. “We depend a lot on our federal government when it comes to health and human services,” he said.
North Carolina is hurting already due to the impact of these cuts. Just a few headlines over the past few weeks demonstrate the breadth of the damage, with more likely to come:
WUNC: Trump’s federal workforce cuts through Musk-led DOGE impacts NC’s national parks in Outer Banks
WNCN: VA hospital employees in Durham, Fayetteville among recent firings from DOGE
WRAL: NC State graduate one of many scientists hit by federal workforce cuts
NC Newsline: Massive cuts to a HUD office would slow disaster aid to hard-hit NC communities
Chapelboro: UNC Researchers Warn About Effects of Federal Funding Cuts on Cancer Discoveries, Treatments
News & Observer: N&O: US House budget blueprint may gut NC’s Medicaid expansion and cost billions
Triangle Business Journal: Trump’s DEI freeze endangers $70M for North Carolina small businesses