America First Policies Work in North Carolina

This article originally appeared in The Blue Ridge Times on February 25, 2026

Passage of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act (WFTC) provided a roadmap for lawmakers and stakeholders to advance policies to ensure an America First agenda was solidified on the federal level and within every state. In the months following, the North Carolina chapter of the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) worked diligently to ensure North Carolinians benefited from federal initiatives that were codified into state law.

WFTC included a provision to establish a Rural Health Transformation Program to enhance access to rural areas. North Carolina received $213 million to accelerate technology innovation, modernize the workforce, and improve chronic disease management. In rural North Carolina, many hospitals have closed due to rising operating costs and workforce shortages. As a result, lawmakers dedicated funding in the bill to help states maintain and increase health access in rural areas. 

Read full op-ed in The Blue Ridge Times