Jennifer Balkcom Supported DOGE, Which Slashed More Than $30 Million In Funding For North Carolina Food Banks, Including Ones Serving Areas Affected By Helene, To Purchase Produce From Local Farmers
2024-2026: Balkcom Supported DOGE And Was Endorsed By Trump
December 2024: Balkcom Posted In Support Of DOGE
December 2024: Balkcom Supported DOGE. “If DOGE accomplishes its goal, the State Legislature's will have some serious work ahead. It's about bringing lawmaking back to the closest level to the people—where it truly belongs. Decentralized decisions, empowered communities, and a stronger voice for every citizen. Vivek Ramaswamy, gave great hope and insight for Americans future.” [Jennifer Balkcom, Facebook, 12/5/24]
Image: see original report, p. 41
[Jennifer Balkcom, Facebook, 12/5/24]
Newsweek: DOGE “Launched An Unprecedented Assault To Cut Back The Public Sector As President Donald Trump Stepped Back Into The White House.” “The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which launched an unprecedented assault to cut back the public sector as President Donald Trump stepped back into the White House in January, no longer exists, with eight months to go on its mandate, Reuters has reported. Newsweek contacted the White House for comment via email after office hours. DOGE, initially led by billionaire Elon Musk, spearheaded the Trump administration's drive to shrink the role of government, to the delight of conservatives and to the horror of Democrats who condemned the cost-cutting campaign as hasty and wasteful.” [Newsweek, 11/24/25]
- 2025: The Trump Administration Created The So-Called Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE) Under The Auspices Of Finding Fraud, Waste, And Abuse. “Since the creation of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), confusion and a lack of transparency have reigned. Under the auspices of finding fraud, waste, and abuse, DOGE has hurt the middle class, created chaos, and attempted to usurp Congress’ power of the purse with illegal impoundments. The President’s constitutional role is to faithfully execute the laws enacted by Congress. The lack of transparency surrounding all aspects of DOGE raises unanswered questions about its leadership, fiscal structure, data security practices, and legal authority to execute the laws enacted by Congress.” [House Committee on the Budget Minority, 3/11/25]
August 2026: Balkcom Thanked Trump For His Endorsement And Promised To Work With Him
August 2026: Balkcom: “THANK YOU, President Trump! I’m Incredibly Grateful For Your Support, And I’m Proud To Stand And Fight For The People Of Western North Carolina. In Congress, I’ll Work With You To Continue Rebuilding WNC After Helene, Deliver Real Results For Our Communities, And Fight To Make Life More Affordable For Hardworking Families.” “Last night, President Donald Trump officially endorsed State Representative Jennifer Balkcom for Congress. Last week, Balkcom was selected as the Republican nominee to fill the vacancy on the ballot. About the endorsement, Balkcom said, ‘THANK YOU, President Trump! I’m incredibly grateful for your support, and I’m proud to stand and fight for the people of Western North Carolina. In Congress, I’ll work with you to continue rebuilding WNC after Helene, deliver real results for our communities, and fight to make life more affordable for hardworking families. I’m ready to get to work.’” [Blue Ridge Times, 8/18/26]
2025: DOGE Slashed More Than $30 Million In Funding For Food Banks And Schools In North Carolina To Purchase Fresh Produce From Local Farmers; A Henderson Farmer Said Ending The Local Food For Schools Program Would Eliminate At Least 50% Of His Revenue Stream
2025: The Trump Administration Cancelled Two Programs That Provided Food Banks And Schools With Funding To Purchase Fresh Produce From Local North Carolina Farmers, Totaling More Than $30 Million In Cuts. “The Trump administration has axed two federal programs that provide funding for food banks and schools in North Carolina to buy fresh produce and meat from local farmers and producers. Nationwide, over $1 billion has been slashed. The decision by the U.S. Department of Agriculture will wipe out around $11.4 million from the state’s share of the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program — and another $19 million from the Local Food for Schools Cooperative Agreement Program, local providers say.” [News & Observer, 3/18/25]
March 2025: A Local Henderson Farmer Said That “Ending The Local Food For Schools Program Would Eliminate At Least 50% Of His Revenue Stream This Year,” And It Always Provided “A Guaranteed Market For His Crops.” “The cuts have left farmers like Patrick Brown baffled. […] Brown, the Henderson farmer, was in Washington on Monday trying to advocate for farmers. Brown told McClatchy he averages anywhere from $100,000 to $150,000 on vegetables alone, but ending the Local Food for Schools program would eliminate at least 50% of his revenue stream this year. Brown is a fourth-generation farmer at Brown Family Farm and Produce. It’s a small farm on less than 1,000 acres with a diverse portfolio, including specialty crops like vegetables for direct market. Among his crops are green leafy vegetables, zucchini, cauliflower, broccoli, sweet corn, watermelon and cantaloupe. He said the program has always taken a weight off his shoulders because he knows there’s a guaranteed market for his crops. The program provides grant funding to nongovernmental organizations, or nonprofits, to coordinate with farms like Brown’s to purchase food directly, as long as the farms are in compliance with food safety audits.” [Charlotte Observer, 3/18/25]
- The Trump Administration Canceled Funding For Schools To “Help Them Buy Healthy Food From Local Farmers To Serve To Students.” “Other organizations and schools districts across North Carolina — including Second Harvest Food Bank of Metrolina, Nourish Up and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools — may feel the impact, too. […] The USDA also canceled about $660 million in funding slated to go to schools to also help them buy healthy food from local farmers to serve to students, according to Politico.” [Charlotte Observer, 3/19/25]
March 2025: The Federal Government Terminated The Lease For A Farm Service Agency Building In Hendersonville Even Though The Office Played A Key Continuing Role In Distributing Relief Money To Farmers After Helene
Asheville Citizen Times Headline: “Farm Service Agency Office Surrounded By Helene-Impacted Farms To Be Terminated, DOGE Says.” [Asheville Citizen Times, 3/7/25]
March 2025: Trump Administration Terminated The Lease For A Farm Service Agency (FSA) Building In Hendersonville, Even Though Farmers Were Still Recovering From Helene. According to the Asheville Citizen-Times, “Even as farmers recover from record flooding sustained during Tropical Storm Helene, the Trump administration has indicated it will terminate the lease of the Farm Service Agency office located in the heart of Western North Carolina's apple orchards and fruit farms in Henderson County. The termination of the lease in Hendersonville will affect both the FSA and the Henderson County Soil and Conservation offices. Helene caused an estimated $4.9 billion in damages to Western North Carolina agriculture, and an estimated $135 million in damages in Henderson County, the Hendersonville Times News reported Feb. 26.” [Asheville Citizen Times, 3/7/25]
A Local Official With The NC Cooperative Extensive “Said He Was ‘Very Concerned’ About Possible Cuts To The FSA, Given That Most Of The Aid Given To Farmers After Helene Has Been Through The Agency.” “Henderson County Extension Director for NC Cooperative Extension Terry Kelley said he was ‘very concerned’ about possible cuts to the FSA, given that most of the aid given to farmers after Helene has been through the agency. Most of the money allocated for farm recovery from Congress is still waiting to be distributed and the ‘most logical’ way to distribute would be through the FSA, Kelley said. ‘I'm very much afraid that if something doesn't happen to get a little bit more to our growers that a lot of them are going to be left in bad shape,’ Kelley said. The hope is that the FSA would have a new building by the end of August, Kelley said.” [Asheville Citizen Times, 3/7/25]
- Asheville Citizen Times: “Most Of The Money Allocated For Farm Recovery From Congress Is Still Waiting To Be Distributed.” “Henderson County Extension Director for NC Cooperative Extension Terry Kelley said he was ‘very concerned’ about possible cuts to the FSA, given that most of the aid given to farmers after Helene has been through the agency. Most of the money allocated for farm recovery from Congress is still waiting to be distributed and the ‘most logical’ way to distribute would be through the FSA, Kelley said.” [Asheville Citizen Times, 3/7/25]