President Donald Trump’s proposed $1.15 trillion America First budget blueprint for discretionary spending focuses on cutting funding to some programs and departments in order to funnel $54 billion to the Department of Defense, but those cuts could have far-reaching impacts for Western North Carolina.

In a message to Congress in the budget document, Trump lays out his blueprint, saying the budget “provides for one of the largest increases in defense spending without increasing the debt; significantly increases the budget for immigration enforcement," adds "resources for a wall on the southern border with Mexico," and "increases funding to address violent crime and reduces opioid abuse."

The full budget is expected to be released in May and the details will have to be approved Congress. The Times-News requested interviews with U.S. Rep. Mark Meadows last week, but his office said Meadows was not available due to a busy schedule while dealing with health care issues and the potential repeal of Obamacare.

While the proposals aren't final, the president's blueprint, released March 16, provides "a view of the priorities of the president and his administration," as Mick Mulvaney, director of the Office of Management and Budget, notes in his message in the proposal.

Twelve of the 15 Cabinet agencies would see budget cuts, the largest of those cuts impacting Agriculture, Labor, State and EPA. More money is listed for the Defense Department, Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs.

Elimination of the Appalachian Regional Commission

Some of the proposed cuts could hinder economic development in Western North Carolina, local officials said, specifically the elimination of the Appalachian Regional Commission. The commission is an economic partnership of communities in 13 states, from Mississippi to New York, with a mission to “innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth.”

According to the ARC, it has supported 662 projects in Appalachia totaling $175.7 million, funds that have been matched by more than $257.4 million and will attract an additional $443 million in leveraged private investments.

In the last several years, the ARC has provided millions toward economic developments in Western North Carolina. This includes $1.5 million for community colleges in Polk, Rutherford and Swain Counties last year for aviation and automotive career pathways, $5.7 million toward 25 projects to bring jobs and economic development to 29 counties in WNC in 2010, as well as funds for the WNC Livestock Center in Canton.

It also helps smaller local governments fund infrastructure projects. The commission provided funding last summer for Laurel Park's Highway 64 study, and funds for paving Broadpointe Drive in Mills River, which the town council approved last month, according to Town Manager Jeff Wells.

Services for seniors

Another impact the proposed plan could have is to local programs administered by the Council on Aging, including Meals on Wheels.

The blueprint outlines a 17.9-percent cut to the Department of Health and Human Services, cutting the department's funding by $15.1 billion to bring the total to $69 billion.

Among those cuts are the elimination of programs such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Community Services Block Grant Program, an elimination of $4.2 billion in spending compared to 2017.

According to the blueprint, "LIHEAP is a lower-impact program and is unable to demonstrate strong performance outcomes. CSBG funds services that are duplicative of other federal programs, such as emergency food assistance and employment services, and is also a limited-impact program."

Council on Aging for Henderson County Executive Director Trina Stokes said the council receives 40 percent of its funding for Meals on Wheels from the state Home and Community Care Block Grant Program, which is itself funded by federal and state appropriations, but not by programs the budget explicitly lists for elimination.

She shared information detailing that the state HCCBG program is funded through state appropriations alongside federal appropriations from the Older Americans Act, administered by the U.S. Administration for Community Living and the Social Services Block Grant, administered by the U.S. Administration for Children and Families.

If that 40 percent is cut, however, about 130 of their 435 clients would have to be dropped from the program, Stokes said.

She said that in fiscal year 2016, the Council on Aging provided 58,256 meals to a total of 585 clients through the program and spent nearly $500,000 — half the group's budget — on adult nutrition programs.

Also in fiscal year 2016, 60 percent of the Council on Aging's funding came through a combination of state and federal funding through Home and Community Care Block Grants.

"(It's) got us thinking a lot about as an agency, how would we adapt," she said. "Our goal is to continue no matter what," and try to find a way to maintain the current client number.

There are still many unknowns, Stokes said, adding that the Council on Aging is keeping a close eye on the budget going forward.

But one cut would definitely affect seniors the Council serves, she noted, the elimination of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program that "a lot of our seniors use."

"There are a lot of implications," she said, questioning who would be there to help those seniors with their power bills.

Impact on agriculture

Trump proposed cutting the Department of Agriculture by $4.7 billion, or 20.7 percent, for a total $17.9 billion in funding, another proposal that has local implications.

While light on details, the blueprint says it reduces funding for the National Forest System, the USDA's statistical capabilities and staffing in the USDA's Service Center Agencies.

It eliminates the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education Program and Water and Wastewater loan and grant program, but fully funds wildland fire preparedness and suppression at $2.4 billion. It provides $350 million for the USDA's "flagship competitive research program."

Mark Williams, executive director of Agribusiness Henderson County, said local farmers rely on the USDA for many things, most notably the crop insurance program and research, but also for food safety, inspections and grants for specialty crops like fruits, vegetables and ornamentals.

While the drop in funding is a concern, he said, it's "wait and see" until the final details come out.

"There's always concern — somebody's relying on those funds," he said.

But, there could be opportunities for positive outcomes, too, especially with regulations that are cumbersome and costly for local agribusinesses like the Food Safety and Modernization Act.

Congress will have to pass an extension of current funding or a spending bill by April 29, when the current funding bill expires, to avoid a government shutdown. Trump will release the rest of the budget in May, including the White House outlook for the economy, tax proposals and plans for reducing the deficit.

— The Associated Press contributed to this report.