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Trump's Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy Delivers Largest Emergency Relief Funding Ever for North Carolina's Hurricane Recovery

Tuesday, September 23, 2025
image of highway bridge with crane and below says "America is Building Again Delivered by President Trump and Secretary Duffy"


North Carolina to receive $1.15 billion, largest allocation of ER funding ever delivered to a state 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy today announced that the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) will receive $1.15 billion in additional Emergency Relief funding for Hurricane Helene repairs. This is the largest single allocation under the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief (ER) Program for a state in the Department’s history. With today’s announcement, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has provided a total of nearly $2 billion in ER funding for North Carolina Hurricane Helene repairs.

“President Trump promised no North Carolinian would be left behind. Today’s announcement reflects that continued commitment to get America building again,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy. “This historic investment in the recovery effort is just one of many actions my Department has taken to support the region. Since January, we’ve toured the damage, slashed red tape, and expedited the I-40 highway rebuild. We will not rest until the communities devasted by Hurricane Helene are made whole again.”

“Under the leadership of Secretary Duffy, the Department is helping North Carolina get critical transportation infrastructure back up and running quickly and safely,” said Federal Highway Administrator Sean McMaster. “Across the country, the Federal Highway Administration will continue to work hand-in-hand with states to revitalize our vital transportation networks and keep the public moving.”

North Carolina Hurricane Helene Recovery:  

  • Earlier this year, Secretary Duffy announced that NCDOT would receive $400 million in ER funding to accelerate repairs to roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure damaged by Hurricane Helene.
  • Later this week, Administrator McMaster and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) officials will join local leaders to inspect progress on repairs to Interstate 40. This inspection follows Secretary Duffy’s February visit to North Carolina, where he announced a partnership between USDOT and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to secure a “Special Use” permit. The permit allows NCDOT to source rock from USFS land and extract construction materials from a nearby river—just 1–3 miles from the site—rather than transporting them 20–50 miles. This commonsense approach reduces project time and costs, speeding the highway’s reconstruction for local communities.

FHWA’s ER Program provides funding to help states perform repairs caused by major natural disasters and extreme weather events. A listing of FY 2025 ER Program allocations with funding information can be found at the following location: Emergency Relief Program Recent Allocations.

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