Governor Josh Stein traveled to Washington, D.C., alongside officials from Buncombe, Ashe, Haywood, Madison, and Rutherford counties to advocate for additional federal funding for Hurricane Helene recovery in western North Carolina. The group met with members of the Trump administration and Congress to request $13.5 billion in new aid.
During his visit, Governor Stein held meetings with Representatives Don Davis, Deborah Ross, Greg Murphy, Valerie Foushee, Virginia Foxx, Addison McDowell, Richard Hudson, Pat Harrigan, Chuck Edwards, Alma Adams, Tim Moore; Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd; and Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought.
“It’s been nearly a year since Hurricane Helene, and while we are grateful for every dollar of federal support we have received, we need more,” said Governor Josh Stein. “I was pleased to meet with the Trump administration and members of our Congressional delegation to advocate for an additional $13.5 billion to strengthen western North Carolina’s recovery, getting folks back in their homes, boosting small businesses, supporting local governments, and repairing critical infrastructure.”
The proposal seeks congressional approval for several funding streams: $8 billion through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery program aimed at rebuilding homes and infrastructure; $400 million via the Small Business Administration in forgivable loans for small businesses; nearly $1.6 billion from the U.S. Department of Transportation to restore roads including I-40; and almost $2 billion from FEMA primarily for Special Community Disaster Loans that help local governments maintain essential services.
Governor Stein also urged federal agencies to release funds previously appropriated by Congress under the American Relief Act of 2025. Including these outstanding allocations along with the new request brings North Carolina’s total ask close to $23 billion.
State leaders noted that current federal assistance covers only about 9% of damages suffered in western North Carolina due to Hurricane Helene. In comparison, other major hurricanes such as Katrina, Maria, and Sandy received over 70% federal coverage for recovery costs. If approved in full by Congress and agencies, North Carolina would see its share rise to 47%.
Further details on Governor Stein’s budget request can be found here: Click here to read Governor Stein’s full budget request.
