Congressman Tim Moore and DOT Secretary Sean Duffy Survey Hurricane Helene Damage in Western North Carolina

CLYDE, NC — Today, Congressman Tim Moore (NC-14) joined U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, along with several federal, state, and local officials, to survey a section of major interstate I-40 that was destroyed by flooding, resulting from Hurricane Helene.

“I want to thank Secretary Duffy, Secretary Noem, Acting FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton, and other Trump Administration officials who have kept their focus on rebuilding Western North Carolina,” said Congressman Tim Moore. “Unlike the previous administration, they are showing real leadership and initiative to help the hardworking families who have lost everything. President Trump knows these communities can’t afford to wait, and when he said he would put America First, he meant it. While Biden’s FEMA wasted time and resources, Trump’s team is moving fast, cutting through bureaucracy, and delivering real results. This is America First in action.”

Secretary Duffy said to Fox News, "We're out here assessing and looking at how we can partner with local officials to rebuild quickly. Donald Trump, he doesn't move at the speed of prior administrations — he moves lightning quick."

During the visit, Secretary Duffy also announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) and U.S. Forest Service have partnered in their efforts to help USDOT obtain a “Special Use” permit to use rock from Forest Service land and extract construction materials from the local river. This will allow the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to get construction materials from a nearby river, just 1 to 3 miles away, instead of transporting them from 20 to 50 miles away, a process that would have tripled both the cost and duration of the project. This permit is a commonsense solution to reduce the time it would take to rebuild the highway and significantly cut down on costs.

“President Trump directed me to build infrastructure faster, better, and more affordably,” said Secretary Duffy. “That is why, when we recently identified a path to reduce I-40’s construction costs and timeline by as much as two-thirds of the original Biden-era estimate, I immediately asked my team what we could do to help. Today’s announcement will help ensure we deliver this critical project more efficiently for the American people. Too often, the federal government creates obstacles that slow recovery and drive up costs. This time, we're cutting through those burdensome barriers to get the job done, ensuring USDOT's full support for our state partner's success every step of the way throughout this project."

During their conversation, Congressman Moore reaffirmed his commitment to working with the Trump Administration, state officials, and local leaders to ensure Western North Carolina receives the resources it needs to fully recover. He emphasized the importance of new policies that streamline disaster relief and strengthen the region’s long-term resilience.