North Carolina Governor Urges Trump to Back $13.5B for Helene Recovery

Stein met with Trump and other officials to request federal aid for western North Carolina.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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North Carolina Governor Josh Stein met with President Donald Trump and other federal officials at the White House, urging them to provide an additional $13.5 billion in federal funding to help western North Carolina recover from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Helene. Stein said the scale of destruction far exceeds what residents or the state can cover alone, and he pressed the case for more federal assistance to rebuild homes, businesses, and infrastructure.

Why it matters

Hurricane Helene caused an estimated $60 billion in damage across western North Carolina, leaving thousands of homes, businesses, and private roads in need of repair. The governor argues the state and local communities cannot afford the full cost of recovery, making federal aid critical to rebuilding efforts.

The details

During the meeting, Stein thanked Trump for the federal government's focus on debris removal, noting that over 16 million cubic yards of storm debris have already been cleared. However, Stein said the next phase of rebuilding thousands of damaged structures and infrastructure still requires significant additional funding. The governor pressed Trump to approve $13.5 billion in further federal aid to support these recovery efforts.

  • Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina nearly a year ago.
  • Stein met with Trump and other federal officials at the White House on February 22, 2026.

The players

Josh Stein

The Governor of North Carolina who is seeking additional federal aid for recovery efforts in western parts of the state following Hurricane Helene.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who Stein met with to request $13.5 billion in federal funding for Helene recovery.

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What they’re saying

“I said, North Carolina needs more help. Honestly, Mr. President, we need another 13 and a half billion dollars.”

— Josh Stein, Governor of North Carolina (abc11.com)

“He was explaining just how broad it was and how devastating it was because he's seen it. I think he now understands that there's a lot more work to get done.”

— Josh Stein, Governor of North Carolina (abc11.com)

What’s next

The Trump administration has indicated it will 'take a hard look' at Stein's request for an additional $13.5 billion in federal aid for Helene recovery efforts in western North Carolina.

The takeaway

This meeting highlights the critical need for substantial federal investment to support the long-term rebuilding of western North Carolina communities devastated by Hurricane Helene. With the scale of destruction exceeding state and local resources, securing adequate federal aid will be pivotal to the region's recovery.