Budd rejects Trump funding request lacking Helene relief

US Sen. Ted Budd, R-NC, said he can’t support a supplemental funding request from President Donald Trump, which would help pay for the Iran war among other things, because additional Helene recovery funding was not included.

Hurricane Helene caused an estimated $60 billion in damage in September 2024.

The Office of Management and Budget stated that the $87.6 billion request to Congress on Wednesday is needed to fill urgent needs such as Operation Epic Fury, the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, and American farmers.

While he said that he supports strengthening the military and rebuilding the munitions stockpile, along with assisting farmers affected by disasters, and combating unfair trade practices, Budd said he was disappointed that the request didn’t include any funding for recovery in western North Carolina communities as the two-year anniversary of the storm approaches.

“Nearly two years since Hurricane Helene ravaged our state, debris still clogs waterways,” he said in a press release issued on Thursday. “Roads, bridges, and dams require repair or replacement. Homeowners are paying mortgages on properties that were wiped away. Quite simply, the need continues to outweigh what the state and local communities can bear.”

The senator said for that reason, he will vote against this or any other supplemental appropriations package that does not include additional funding for western North Carolina.

Budd has been vocal, along with other members of the North Carolina congressional delegation, Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, and the General Assembly, about the ongoing need for funding. Over $7 billion in federal funding has been awarded or allocated and state lawmakers have appropriated $2.5 billion.

Earlier this month, the governor, along with state Sen. Kevin Corbin, R-Macon, met with North Carolina’s congressional delegation, including Budd, to seek more than $10 billion in additional federal funding for western North Carolina’s Hurricane Helene recovery.

Budd also noted in his press release that FEMA approval times on public assistance projects have greatly improved under new Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin as opposed to former secretary Kristi Noem.

“Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin has empowered FEMA to more rapidly reimburse state & local governments for public assistance projects,” he said. “I’m pleased projects are now being approved on a regular basis — something I called for more than a year ago. I’m immensely grateful to my former Senate colleague, but FEMA is only one piece of the puzzle.”

He added that the Small Business Administration, (SBA) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) also play a major role in disaster recovery, and the disaster funding that Congress passed in December 2024 for those agencies has already been largely allocated.

“Western North Carolina’s water infrastructure remains particularly vulnerable,” the senator said. “In places like Beech Mountain, residents face major uncertainty with their water system. Replacing it could take years and tens of millions of dollars they don’t have.”  

At a visit by Mullin to western North Carolina in April, hosted by Budd, Henderson County manager John Mitchell said local governments acted quickly in the storm’s aftermath and continue working to restore infrastructure and services, but uncertainty surrounding federal approvals has created additional strain.

“We can endure almost anything if we know what the answer is,” Mitchell said. “But uncertainty and delay make recovery harder.”

Budd said it’s people like Mitchell that need to hear from fellow lawmakers that they are not alone in the recovery process and that additional appropriations will be secured.

“Every time I’m in WNC, people ask me to make sure that they’re not forgotten,” he said. “I’d ask my colleagues in Washington and Raleigh to send them a clear message that we’re with them by passing additional funding for disaster recovery.” 

“Budd rejects Trump funding request lacking Helene relief” was originally published on www.carolinajournal.com.