NC's Sen. Budd to block Trump's funding requests until Helene relief is included

Danielle Battaglia, The News & Observer (Raleigh) on Jun 25, 2026

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Ted Budd took a stand against the Trump administration Thursday evening in order to get Western North Carolina additional relief from Hurricane Helene.

In a news release, Budd, a Republican, announced he would vote against any supplemental funding bill put forward until Helene relief was added. A supplemental funding bill provides agencies additional funding beyond what was budgeted.

“Nearly two years since Hurricane Helene ravaged our state, debris still clogs waterways,” Budd said in a written statement. “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.”

He continued: “For that reason, I will vote against any supplemental appropriations package that does not include additional funding for Western North Carolina.

Budd’s proclamation came one day after President Donald Trump submitted to Congress an $88 billion supplemental package to fund the Iran war, provide aid to farmers and to help combat Ebola.

Both chambers voted this week to force Trump to withdraw from Iran. Trump’s supplemental now puts Republicans in the position of having to decide whether to pay for an unpopular war.

But that’s not where he lost Budd’s vote.

“I fully support President Trump’s request to replenish our munitions stockpile and strengthen our military, as well as provide economic assistance to farmers impacted by disaster and unfair trade practices,” Budd said in a written statement. “I am disappointed, however, that the supplemental request did not include funds for Western North Carolina’s significant ongoing recovery efforts.”

In late September 2024, Helene made landfall in the panhandle of Florida as a Category 4 hurricane and tore up the East Coast causing widespread destruction in Western North Carolina. The storm caused $56.9 billion in damage and at least 108 deaths in the state.

At the time of the storm, Congress canceled its workweek in Washington and headed home so their 2024 campaigns wouldn’t be affected by weather-related travel delays.

Budd and Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican, urged congressional leadership to bring lawmakers back to the Capitol to help address the devastation that affected a large portion of the East Coast, but their cries for help went unanswered.

Since then, Budd has been battling former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to release funding earmarked for Helene relief because of a policy she implemented that required her review for any dollar amount over $100,000, causing a logjam in relief funding.

Last fall, Budd put holds on Senate nominations to her office in order to get money released.

In March, Tillis and Rep. Deborah Ross called for Noem’s resignation and Trump fired her within 48 hours.

Trump immediately replaced Noem with Sen. Markwayne Mullin.

“Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin has empowered FEMA to more rapidly reimburse state & local governments for public assistance projects,” Budd wrote in the Thursday press release. “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.”

Budd said that the Small Business Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development play a major role in disaster recovery. He said Congress passed in December 2024 disaster funding for those agencies that have largely been allocated.

Budd said Western North Carolina’s water infrastructure remains particularly vulnerable, specifically pointing out uncertainty for residents of Beech Mountain. Budd said it could take years and tens of millions of dollars the town doesn’t have to replace its system.

“Every time I’m in WNC, people ask me to make sure that they’re not forgotten,” Budd 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.”