Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
On Monday evening, the Coalition Against Right-Wing Extremism (C.A.R.E.) held its second “Broken Budget Town Hall Tour” stop at the Barber Park Event Center, where residents, advocates and local leaders voiced deep concerns over how the federal budget could harm working-class families.
The four-city tour — which also includes Charlotte, Raleigh, and Asheville — invites members of Congress and the public to examine the sweeping impacts of the federal reconciliation budget backed by the Trump administration. Advocates say the plan disproportionately benefits billionaires and corporations while stripping resources from struggling families.
The Greensboro event, staged beside life-size cardboard cutouts of U.S. Sen. Ted Budd and Rep. Virginia Foxx, 5th Congressional District, underscored the urgency residents feel as Congress debates the future of programs that millions rely on.
The proposed budget is projected to eliminate $32 billion in Medicaid funding for North Carolina over the next decade. Dr. Bert Fields, a Greensboro sports medicine physician, explained the devastating ripple effect.
“To set a broken bone starts at $1,000,” Fields said. “North Carolina has 1.3 million children and adolescents that are underage, and Medicaid allows us to get them the care they need without having to sacrifice food or shelter or other living essentials. Over half of my patients depend on Medicaid to afford their life-saving treatments.”
The budget cuts extend beyond healthcare. The “Big Beautiful Bill” also slashes funding for food assistance, public schools and clean energy credits. Shante Woody, manager of The People’s Market, warned of the cascading effects on families and local vendors.
“SNAP is not just cutting federal money and food off the table, but it also allows people to sustain themselves and make a living,” said Woody, a former vendor. “Look at the cost of food. SNAP benefits have never been able to cover a month’s worth of groceries for a household. It is only a supplement.”
Educators and farmers echoed similar concerns. Guilford County Schools librarian Joanna Pendleton noted tighter restrictions on classroom libraries.
“What we’re hearing from teachers is that there are a lot of restrictions on classroom libraries that weren’t there before, which is really going to impact the freedom to read and learn,” she said. “What they are really doing is stripping away access.”
Local gardener Basir Razzak, owner of Uncle B’s Organic Farm and Gardens, linked the budget directly to food insecurity.
“How are people going to feed their families? Bills are already high, but this budget is going to make everything go up,” said Razzak. “Our leaders have to be held accountable at the ballot box.”
