Newly inaugurated President Donald Trump returned to storm-battered Asheville and Swannanoa on Friday and outlined a vague plan to abolish the Federal Emergency Management Agency and shift disaster-recovery responsibilities to state governments.
Trump said he will issue an executive order “to begin the process of fundamentally reforming and overhauling FEMA, or maybe getting rid of FEMA,” which he described as “costing a tremendous amount of money, is very bureaucratic and is very slow.”
Although the centerpiece of the visit was a visit with families devastated by Tropical Storm Helene, the president’s comments Friday consisted heavily of an attack on former President Joe Biden and FEMA.
“Biden did a bad job,” Trump said.
“You are not forgotten any longer,” he told local political leaders and supporters just minutes after landing at Asheville Regional Airport and the attacks continued at several points during the visit. “You’ve been treated very badly by the previous administration.”
His attacks on FEMA follow false claims he made in October when he visited Swannanoa. Then he said the agency was running out of money because funds were being diverted to help “illegal migrants” enter the country with the possible intention of illegally voting for Democrats in the election.
First lady Melania Trump and President Donald Trump disembark from Air Force One at Asheville Regional Airport. // WLOS credit: WLOS staff
At Buncombe County’s Helene briefing Wednesday, spokesperson Lillian Govus said FEMA had provided more than $100 million in individual assistance in the county and urged residents who hadn’t registered with the agency to do so. She also said 700 households in the county had qualified for rental assistance through FEMA.
The president’s visit was his first outside of Washington, D.C., since his inauguration Monday. He said his staff urged him to go to Los Angeles first to meet with victims of southern California’s devastating wildfires. But he said first lady Melania Trump urged him to stop in western North Carolina along the way, which he agreed was the right decision.
“In the campaign I promised I’d come back to western North Carolina to help the people of the state and today, here I am to deliver on that promise,” he said.
At his meeting inside an airport hangar, Trump said he has directed his staff to speed up recovery by directing federal agencies to ignore normal permitting requirements and start construction immediately. And he said he has directed the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to focus immediately on projects involving federal highways, bridges and watersheds. In late 2024, prior to his inauguration, the Corps spearheaded a $39 million six-month project to install a mobile filtration system at North Fork Reservoir.
Paramount in the effort, however, was getting FEMA out of the way.
Trump:States should be responsible
In its place, Trump said he would require individual states to take over disaster relief and recovery projects, with the federal government’s role largely limited to paying a minor percentage of the total costs.
“If [North Carolina] did this from the beginning, it would have been done better,” he said. “That’s what we have states for; they take care of problems and a governor can handle something very quickly.”
North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein, a Democrat who took office earlier this month, met Trump upon his landing and attended the airport meeting. He spoke privately with the president and reiterated the state’s need for federal relief assistance, according to a spokesperson, but he wasn’t invited to address the meeting nor accompany Trump on the visit to Swannanoa.
Despite their partisan differences, both appeared cordial to each other, and Trump said he expected to work closely with Stein in rebuilding the hard-hit region “bigger, better and stronger.”
The president said he would immediately begin to shift federal responsibility for the post-Helene recovery effort away from FEMA and give it to an ad hoc committee of three Republican members of Congress – Chuck Edwards, Virginia Foxx and Tim Moore – and Republican National Committee chairman Michael Whatley, who lives in the state.
“I’m not really thinking about FEMA right now,” he said. “I’m thinking about Michael Whatley and the three congresspeople to handle this.”
Edwards, whose district was ground-zero for the storm, has led the congressional effort to craft and direct a $116 billion federal appropriation to fund the region’s recovery, primarily through FEMA. But neither he nor any of the ad hoc committee has experience in disaster recovery efforts.
Nor was its task made clear. The president’s off-the-cuff directive appeared to assign the four people the job of being a liaison between the state government and the White House.
‘Never seen such damage’
Trump seemed awestruck by Helene’s devastation, frequently commenting on its magnitude and impact on its victims.
“When I came here, I couldn’t believe the damage,” he said. ‘I’ve never seen such damage done by water.”
Among the several swipes he took at his predecessor, Trump blamed Biden for the suffering of the thousands of people who lost their homes and who continue to struggle to find shelter “in freezing, 20-degree weather.
“I don’t know how they did that one,” he continued, “because it was cold [in the area] even while your government provided shelter and housing for illegal aliens from all over the world. But under the Trump administration, the days of betrayal and neglect are over.”
The president traveled in a motorcade from the airport to one of the most hard-hit sections of Swannanoa. The tour was guided by evangelist Franklin Graham, the son of the late Billy Graham, who said he grew up nearby and considered it his home.
The visit culminated in a news conference in the debris-strewn yard of one family’s heavily damaged house, where several victims described their experiences during the storm and in the following weeks as they sought assistance from FEMA and other organizations. Graham introduced the president to members of four families whose homes and businesses were lost.
Trump responded with sympathy, criticism of FEMA, and effusive praise for Graham and the disaster-response organization he leads, Samaritan’s Purse, which has been active in the region.
“FEMA has been a disaster no matter where they are,” the president said.
Swannanoa resident Lucy Bickers waited in the chilly weather in the hope that the president would see that many people, including her, had been assisted by FEMA and were grateful for its support. // Watchdog photo by Starr Sariego
Voices of support for FEMA
Trump’s attacks on the agency weren’t shared by all. Swannanoa resident Lucy Bickers was among the several dozen people who lined a section of the main highway through Swannanoa along the motorcade’s route. She carried a hand-painted sign with the words “FEMA Helped Me.”
She said she waited in the chilly weather in the hope that the president would see that many people, including her, had been assisted by the federal agency and were grateful for its support.
“I’m here to provide some balance and get the word out that FEMA helped me and a lot of people I know,” Bickers said.
Two other sign holders joined in the effort and to plead that FEMA’s rental assistance program extended indefinitely. The program is gradually being cut back and may expire in early February, although many victims remain without regular housing, they said.
“People are still sleeping in cold cars,” said Rene Rickman. “How safe is that?”
Autumn Miller stood beside Rickman with a sign reading, “TRUMP, Many More Homeless on Jan. 25, Plz Extend Vouchers.”
Both acknowledged they wouldn’t know if the president noticed their signs as his limousine sped by. But Rickman said she hoped that anyone who did see her would understand that her intention wasn’t political. Rather, she said, it was an attempt to help desperate people in need of federal assistance.
“Maybe if he understood the problem he would do something,” Rickman said.“We just want somebody to do something.”
Asheville Watchdog is a nonprofit news team producing stories that matter to Asheville and Buncombe County. Tom Fiedler is a Pulitzer Prize-winning political reporter and dean emeritus from Boston University who lives in Asheville. Email him at tfiedler@avlwatchdog.org. The Watchdog’s reporting is made possible by donations from the community. To show your support for this vital public service go to avlwatchdog.org/support-our-publication/.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-05-01 08:16:00
(The Center Square) – Taxpayers in North Carolina will face an average tax increase of $2,382 if the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act expires at the end of the year, says the National Taxpayers Union Foundation.
Results of analysis were released Thursday morning by the nonprofit organization billing itself a “nonpartisan research and educational affiliate of the National Taxpayers Union.” Its four state neighbors were similar, with South Carolina lower ($2,319) and higher averages in Virginia ($2,787), Georgia ($2,680) and Tennessee ($2,660).
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of eight years ago was a significant update to individual and business taxes in the federal tax code. According to the Tax Foundation, it was considered pro-growth reform with an estimate to reduce federal revenue by $1.47 trillion over a decade.
Should no action be taken before Jan. 1 and the act expire, the federal standard deduction would be halved; the federal child tax credit would decrease; higher federal tax brackets would return; the federal estate tax threshold will be lower; and some business tax benefits will be gone.
The foundation, in summarizing the impact on North Carolina business expensing, says the state conforms to Section 168(k). This means “only 60% expensing for business investments this year and less in future years. State policymakers could adopt 100% full expensing, particularly since the state conforms to the Section 163(j) limit on interest expense and the two provisions were meant to work together.”
The foundation says business net operation loss treatment policies in the state “are less generous than the federal government and impose compliance costs due to lack of synchronization with the federal code and are uncompetitive with most other states.”
The National Taxpayers Union Foundation also says lawmakers “should at least be conscious of any retroactive provisions when selecting their date of fixed conformity.” North Carolina is among 21 states conforming to the federal income tax base “only as of a certain date” rather than automatically matching federal tax code changes – meaning definitions, calculations or rules.
The foundation said nationally the average filer will see taxes raised $2,955. It estimates an increase for 62% of Americans. The biggest average increases by state are in Massachusetts ($4,848), Washington ($4,567) and Wyoming ($4,493) and the lowest are in West Virginia ($1,423), Mississippi ($1,570) and Kentucky ($1,715).
Individual wages, nationally, are expected to go down 0.5%, reducing economic growth by 1.1% over 10 years.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
The content primarily reports on the potential impact of the expiration of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, relying heavily on analysis from the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, which describes itself as a nonpartisan organization but is known to advocate for lower taxes and limited government intervention, positions typically aligned with center-right economic policies. The article uses neutral language in presenting facts and data and does not explicitly advocate for a particular political viewpoint; however, the emphasis on tax increases and business expensing challenges following the expiration suggests a subtle alignment with pro-tax-cut, business-friendly perspectives associated with center-right ideology. Thus, while the article largely reports rather than overtly promotes an ideological stance, the framing and source choice reflect a center-right leaning.
www.thecentersquare.com – By David Beasley | The Center Square contributor – (The Center Square – ) 2025-04-30 21:25:00
(The Center Square) – Authorization of sports agents to sign North Carolina’s collegiate athletes for “name, image, and likeness” contracts used in product endorsements is in legislation approved Wednesday by a committee of the state Senate.
Authorize NIL Agency Contracts, known also as Senate Bill 229, is headed to the Rules Committee after gaining favor in the Judiciary Committee. It would likely next get a full floor vote.
Last year the NCAA approved NIL contracts for players.
Sen. Amy S. Galey, R-Alamance
NCLeg.gov
“Athletes can benefit from NIL by endorsing products, signing sponsorship deals, engaging in commercial opportunities and monetizing their social media presence, among other avenues,” the NCAA says on its website. “The NCAA fully supports these opportunities for student-athletes across all three divisions.”
SB229 spells out the information that the agent’s contract with the athlete must include, and requires a warning to the athlete that they could lose their eligibility if they do not notify the school’s athletic director within 72 hours of signing the contract.
“Consult with your institution of higher education prior to entering into any NIL contract,” the says the warning that would be required by the legislation. “Entering into an NIL contract that conflicts with state law or your institution’s policies may have negative consequences such as loss of athletic eligibility. You may cancel this NIL agency contract with 14 days after signing it.”
The legislation also exempts the NIL contracts from being disclosed under the state’s Open Records Act when public universities review them. The state’s two ACC members from the UNC System, Carolina and N.C. State, requested the exemption.
“They are concerned about disclosure of the student-athlete contracts when private universities don’t have to disclose the student-athlete contracts,” Sen. Amy Galey, R-Alamance, told the committee. “I feel very strongly that a state university should not be put at a disadvantage at recruitment or in program management because they have disclosure requirements through state law.”
Duke and Wake Forest are the other ACC members, each a private institution.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article primarily reports on the legislative development regarding NIL (name, image, and likeness) contracts for collegiate athletes in North Carolina. It presents facts about the bill, committee actions, and includes statements from a state senator without using loaded or emotionally charged language. The piece neutrally covers the issue by explaining both the bill’s purpose and the concerns it addresses, such as eligibility warnings and disclosure exemptions. Overall, the article maintains a factual and informative tone without advocating for or against the legislation, reflecting a centrist, unbiased approach.
SUMMARY: Donald van der Vaart, a former North Carolina environmental secretary and climate skeptic, has been appointed to the North Carolina Utilities Commission by Republican Treasurer Brad Briner. Van der Vaart, who previously supported offshore drilling and fracking, would oversee the state’s transition to renewable energy while regulating utility services. His appointment, which requires approval from the state House and Senate, has drawn opposition from environmental groups. Critics argue that his views contradict clean energy progress. The appointment follows a controversial bill passed by the legislature, granting the treasurer appointment power to the commission.
