Year in Review: 2025

By Moe White –

As 2025 closes, the story of the year across the United States—especially in North Carolina and western North Carolina—is one of disruption, resilience, and determined recovery.

From national political upheaval and historic weather disasters to the local rebuilding efforts sparked by Hurricane Helene, Americans faced intertwined challenges of climate, economy, social programs, and community stability.

National Political Upheaval: the Trump Civil War on America

The second administration of President Donald J. Trump, with the support of the most radical Supreme Court in US history, has upended decades, even centuries, of social, legal, and cultural polity. The Court, which previously awarded blanket immunity to Trump for virtually any action he undertakes while in office, has empowered him to fire tens of thousands of government employees, remove members of heretofore independent agencies created by Congress, and gut enforcement of a wide range of legally required regulations. [The Court has meanwhile destroyed its own effectiveness: in giving Trump more power than any previous president in history, it has also allowed him and his cabinet simply to ignore any rulings they don’t like.]

For example, the Environmental Protection Agency, designated to protect and improve the air, water, and other ecologically sensitive parts of our living environment, has been reimagined as an agency working on behalf of polluters, mining companies, and the very industries the agency was originally designed to police.

Similarly, the Department of Justice, whose Civil Rights Division was established more than 60 years ago to protect the rights of minorities, ensure equal access to the voting booth and public life, and otherwise ensure the Constitutional mandate that all Americans are equal and must be treated equally, has been turned upside down and inside out. After several hundred attorneys in the division resigned or were fired, the Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights now considers the rights of white males to be at risk and has rescinded enforcement of civil rights law on behalf of Blacks, women, Native Americans, Hispanic Americans, and all other nonwhite peoples.

And the Department of Homeland Security and its ICE division have placed armed, anonymous, and poorly trained troops, as well as trained National Guard divisions, on the streets of American cities, in direct contradiction to the 1878 Posse Comitatus Act. Among those arrested, detained, and deported to foreign nations have been American citizens, legal residents, and even children born in the United States.

Birthright Citizenship at Risk

Overall, the upheaval that Trump has brought to the country has divided the nation more than at any time since the Civil War of 1861-1865. Some of the administration’s high-ranking appointees and outside supporters are openly calling for repudiation of the Civil War-era Amendments that guarantee equal rights and voting rights to formerly enslaved people. And the administration itself is challenging the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of birthright citizenship, claiming that rulings dating to the 1890s, which affirmed that anyone born in the US and “subject to the jurisdiction thereof” is a natural citizen of the nation, are no longer valid.

As described in the Asian Law Caucus, “Birthright citizenship is the legal principle, guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, that every baby born in the United States is a US citizen. The Trump administration’s order seeks to deny citizenship to children unless one of their parents is a US citizen or has permanent immigration status, excluding children born to parents on temporary work, student, or other visas, or without immigration status at the time of birth.

This assault on birthright citizenship flouts the Constitution’s dictates, longstanding Supreme Court precedent, a statute passed by Congress, and fundamental American values.

“No president can change the 14th Amendment’s fundamental promise of citizenship,” said Cecillia Wang, ACLU national legal director. “For over 150 years, it has been the law and our national tradition that everyone born on US soil is a citizen from birth. The federal courts have unanimously held that President Trump’s executive order is contrary to the Constitution, a Supreme Court decision from 1898, and a law enacted by Congress. We look forward to putting this issue to rest once and for all in the Supreme Court this term.”

Unitary Executive Argument Likely to Prevail

Despite Ms. Wang’s optimism, it is quite likely that the current Supreme Court will continue its efforts to eliminate all Constitutional protections for the people of the United States in favor of offering absolute power to the Executive Branch, i.e., to the president.

The idea it has developed over the past 40 years is that of the “unitary executive,” i.e., that every agency of government, regardless of its purpose and the legislation that created it in Congress, is under the absolute control of the president. So do not be surprised if the Court overturns the 1898 decision and deliberately repudiates the clear language and plain meaning of our Constitution to put an end to its guarantee of birthright citizenship.

Storms and a Changing Climate

The year began with a massive winter storm on January 5–6 that left hundreds of thousands without power. Just two months later, a deadly March tornado outbreak—over 100 tornadoes across multiple states—claimed dozens of lives and inflicted billions in damage. Heat waves, floods, and climate-driven disasters underscored that extreme weather is now an everyday reality shaping infrastructure, public health, and the economy.

Overall, according to various sources (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Weather Service, Accuweather) the winter of 2025-26 will likely follow a classic La Niña pattern: colder, snowier conditions from the Pacific Northwest to the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley, and warmer, drier weather favored for the Southern US, where drought concerns persist.

“The East Coast might see some significant winter storms and snow, while the Midwest and Plains face below-normal temps and active storm tracks, contrasting with warmer conditions in the Southwest and California.” (NOAA)

Fortunately for WNC readers, much of the East Coast will have warmer, drier weather conditions this winter, though that would lead to a higher risk of continued or worsening drought conditions.

But beware: the typical La Niña weather pattern (warmer and drier) will likely be balanced with polar vortex disruptions that could bring intense cold snaps, according to the National Weather Service.

SNAP, ACA, and Social Safety Nets

Federal programs remained critical to households navigating disaster and economic uncertainty—and remain under constant attack from the Trump administration.

SNAP’s pandemic-era expansions, passed by Congress in early 2023, are scheduled to phase out at the end of December, while in several states tighter work requirements will kick in. Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP) was activated in storm-hit areas, providing temporary food assistance for families who lost jobs, income, or housing. But the July 4, 2025, budget bill passed by Congress (One Big [Breathtakingly Bad] Bill) and signed by President Donald Trump, includes long-term changes to the program that will make it more difficult for millions of families to access coverage. The bill eliminated several exemptions from the work rules for able-bodied adults.

The NC Department of Health & Human Services notes that, as a result, some previously exempt individuals, including veterans and young adults who were in foster care on their 18th birthday, are now subject to the work requirement unless they qualify for another exemption. The bill also lengthened the automatic work rules exemption to age 64 and eliminated exemptions for those in households with older children (ages 14-17).

As of December 1, 2025, an individual is subject to the Work Rules and a three-month time limit if they:

• are between 18 and 64 years old
• do not live in a household with someone under age 14
• are considered physically and mentally able to work

Some people may still be exempt from these requirements under federal law, including those who are pregnant, receive disability benefits, have a physical or mental health condition, or work as a caretaker for someone who is disabled.

For all others, federal rules require every adult SNAP recipient to participate in certain approved work—paid, unpaid, in-kind/barter work, volunteering, or participation in a work or training program—for 80 hours a month.

In North Carolina, D-SNAP supported thousands in Helene-affected counties, when simplified SNAP verification expanded access for seniors and disabled adults. And while Medicaid expansion reached its first full year, enrolling several hundred thousand Tar Heels and hurricane survivors for the first time, the Legislature and Congress have now chosen a path that will kick many of those new enrollees off Medicaid and limit their improved access to mental-health care, chronic-disease treatment, and emergency services.

ACA / Health Coverage: Marketplace enrollment remains a challenge, driven by job displacement and climate-related housing instability. Regulators limited “junk insurance” plans, strengthened mental-health coverage, and maintained subsidies that kept premiums affordable. However, the premium support is due to lapse in January.

During the 43-day government shutdown October 1—November 12, 2025, Republicans in Congress refused to address the issue, instead promising a vote in December to end the shutdown. That promise has yet to be actuated, and it’s highly unlikely that the US Senate’s GOP majority (53-47) or that in the House (219-213) will be willing to support renewed subsidies for an Obama-era program that Republicans have tried to eliminate for the past 15 years.

Losing Out

The people most affected by losing ACA subsidies will be lower-income families, primarily in states that strongly supported Donald Trump’s election bid and are currently represented by Republicans. In many, premiums for individuals, couples, and families with dependent children will increase by 50% to 100%.

According to KFF (formerly Kaiser Family Foundation), about 60% of Affordable Care Act enrollees already find it “somewhat” or “very” difficult to afford out-of-pocket costs for medical care, such as deductibles and copays. That exceeds the approximately half of enrollees who already find it challenging to afford their insurance premiums. The KFF reports that “many also say they could not afford a $300 per year increase in their health insurance costs without significantly disrupting their household finances.”

For example, a 52-year-old full-time caregiver for her daughter in Auburn, Alabama, received a notice saying her monthly health insurance premiums would rise from around $800 a month to $1,100 a month next year (a 37.5% increase). However, she was later notified the monthly cost would actually be more than $1,400—an increase of 75%, twice as much as previously announced).

That prompted her to look for a plan that covers a narrower range of conditions and requires higher copays from her should she use the insurance. She said her friends across the border in Georgia are facing a doubling of monthly fees next year.

According to KFF, “Support for continuing the tax credits extends across party lines. Nearly all Democrats and about eight in 10 independents who are enrolled in marketplace plans say the credits should be extended, as do about seven in 10 Republicans. Support is similarly high among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents who support the MAGA movement, and those who don’t.”

Dropping Out

As a result of these changes, between 5 million and 10 million American citizens are expected to lose insurance altogether in 2026. Many of those who will drop coverage will be young and healthy, leaving an insured pool of people who are older and in poorer health. As a result, costs for health treatment in that smaller pool will be higher than they currently are, and that will lead to still higher premiums—along with a steadily increasing number of people who use emergency rooms as their only medical provider.

That latter change is expected to lead to the closing or hundreds of rural hospitals who can no longer afford to provide such unreimbursed “charity care,” as they’re required to do by federal law. And that in turn will mean worse outcomes for, say, a heart attack victim who could be taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital within five to ten minutes but who now will have to travel 70, 80, or even 100 miles—either by ambulances that can charge unregulated costs or by air ambulances.

As all physicians know, the longer the time lag between a life-threatening event like a heart attack and its treatment, the more damage it can do to other organs, or even lead to death.

These anticipated consequences will continue beyond 2026, even if premium support is later reinstated. While some legislative decisions can be overturned or reversed, and policies reestablished, many changes will be irreversible: i.e., small hospitals that close or go bankrupt will not reopen, and people who die because they lack health insurance or hospital treatment will not come alive again with a change in administrations.

Farmers, Crop Workers, Immigration, and Tariffs

2025 was challenging for the agriculture sector:

• Weather-related losses: Floods, droughts, and frost reduced yields for corn, soybeans, tobacco, and vegetables.
• Labor shortages: Immigration enforcement changes and disrupted migrant labor pipelines left many fields under-harvested.
• Tariff pressures: Export tariffs on soybeans, tobacco, and specialty crops cut revenue for North Carolina farmers and others.

Local nonprofits expanded outreach for displaced farmworkers, offering legal, housing, and employment support amid ongoing labor challenges.

Politics and Representation

North Carolina navigated the ongoing fallout from state-level gerrymandering. New legislative and congressional maps diluted rural and mountain-region voting power, sparking lawsuits and public debate.

The legislature redrew the first and third Congressional district lines, hoping to ensure an additional Republican representative following the 2026 midterm election. Against the legislature’s move—demanded by President Donald Trump as part of his nationwide attempt to redraw state districts so as to keep a GOP majority in the US House—advocates emphasized the importance of fair representation for rural, urban, and Black communities, particularly as post-Helene recovery and climate resilience became legislative priorities.

The administration’s drive to change the rules and congressional boundaries has already succeeded in Texas (blessed by the Supreme Court) and a few other states. Democrats have fought back in “blue” states including California and Viriginia, and are likely to do so in New York and elsewhere. But on a national scale, debates over immigration enforcement, tariffs, and federal workforce restructuring continue to add layers of uncertainty and fear for families, farmers, and small businesses.

Helene Recovery in Buncombe and Asheville

Hurricane Helene’s September 2024 flooding devastated western North Carolina. Roads, bridges, and homes were destroyed; approximately 150 lives were lost. Buncombe County saw unemployment spike from 2.5% to 10.4% in a single month. Tourism—a major economic driver—fell sharply but rebounded early 2025 due to contractors, FEMA personnel, and displaced residents.

Buncombe adopted a five-year recovery plan emphasizing climate resilience, affordable housing, watershed management, and greenway development. Asheville became a hub of community solidarity, with nonprofits, arts groups, and local businesses supporting food distribution, emergency housing, and cleanup efforts. By mid-year, downtown vibrancy returned, though long-term infrastructure repairs continued.

Lessons and Challenges for 2026

Western North Carolina’s experience highlights urgent priorities:

• Infrastructure & Land Use: Modernized stormwater systems, stronger building codes, and flood-plain protections are essential. For instance, the state has allocated $652,530 to support the replacement of curbing in Biltmore Village to improve stormwater management along with $1 million to replace stormwater pipe along Sutton Avenue in Black Mountain to reduce flood risk and improve community resilience (see “Buncombe County Awarded $979,000 for Sidewalks in Swannanoa”)
• Economic Resilience: Tourism, agriculture, and local industries need diversification. SNAP, Medicaid, and Marketplace coverage remain vital for many households.
• Environmental Stewardship: Tree replanting, erosion control, and watershed restoration are critical to prevent future disasters.
• Health & Social Safety Nets: Expanded Medicaid, ACA coverage, and responsive SNAP programs proved indispensable.
• Agriculture & Workforce: Farmers, crop workers, and immigrant labor remain central to food security; policies must support fair wages, access, and legal protections.
• Trade & Tariffs: Tariff impacts on specialty crops and exports remain a significant factor in rural economic stability.
• Democracy & Representation: Gerrymandering challenges reinforce the need for fair political maps reflecting community needs.
• Community Engagement: Grassroots collaboration and civic participation continue to define recovery success.

Across the United States, 2025 revealed that climate change, political upheaval, and economic fragility are now central forces shaping American life. North Carolina’s experience shows that rebuilding—rooted in equity, community, health, and long-term vision—can transform disaster into renewal.