Fact Check: The Trump administration proposed eliminating funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Fact Check: "The Trump administration proposed eliminating funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission."

What We Know

The Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) is a federal agency that has historically provided funding to support economic development in the Appalachian region. During the Trump administration, there were proposals that significantly affected ARC funding. In May 2017, President Trump’s budget proposal called for the elimination of the ARC, which would have drastically reduced its funding. However, subsequent budget proposals during his administration did not completely eliminate funding but suggested substantial cuts. For instance, in the FY 2021 budget proposal, Trump suggested reducing ARC funding to approximately $165 million, down from previous years' allocations.

In 2025, reports indicated that the Trump administration proposed a 93% cut to ARC funding for the fiscal year 2026, reducing it from $200 million to just $14 million. This proposal drew significant concern from various organizations and local leaders who argued that such cuts would severely impact community development and recovery programs in Appalachia.

Analysis

The claim that the Trump administration proposed eliminating funding for the ARC is partially true. While the administration did propose significant cuts and even suggested complete elimination in its initial budget proposals, the actual funding levels were adjusted in subsequent years. For example, despite the initial proposal in 2017 to eliminate the agency, the appropriations for the ARC remained at $165 million in FY 2019 and increased to $175 million in FY 2020.

The reliability of the sources is generally high, as they include official legislative updates and reputable news outlets. The Legislative Update provides a comprehensive overview of appropriations and funding decisions made during Trump's presidency, while news articles from WYMT and Yahoo report on the proposed cuts and the reactions from local leaders. However, it is important to note that the context of the funding proposals often reflects broader budgetary priorities and political negotiations, which can complicate the narrative around funding levels.

Conclusion

The claim that the Trump administration proposed eliminating funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission is partially true. While there were proposals to cut funding drastically, including a complete elimination in early budget proposals, the actual funding was not eliminated during his tenure. Instead, it fluctuated, with significant cuts proposed but not fully realized in appropriated amounts.

Fact Check: The Trump administration proposed eliminating funding for the Appalachian Regional Commission.