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RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina Governor Josh Stein struck an optimistic tone on Oct. 20 in his latest North Carolina Strong update, citing new gains in DMV modernization, Hurricane Helene recovery, and workforce development for veterans. Yet even as he outlined progress, questions lingered about the pace of recovery, the accuracy of some claims, and his sharp criticism of Republican legislative leaders returning to session this week.
“The General Assembly needs to do its job — to keep people safe and healthy, not to strip them of their political power,” Stein said during the hour-long briefing in Raleigh. “The Republican leadership has to get its priorities straight and put people first. Let’s get to work.”
The governor’s remarks mixed policy updates with pointed political commentary, setting up a contrast between his administration’s stated achievements and what he described as “the wrong priorities” of the General Assembly. Stein urged lawmakers to pass a state budget, restore funding to Medicaid and mental health programs, and advance his long-stalled public safety plan — while also spotlighting private and nonprofit partnerships driving much of the state’s visible progress.
Public Safety and Mental Health Funding
Stein renewed his call for legislators to approve his $195 million public safety package, which includes officer pay raises and recruitment and retention bonuses to help fill law enforcement vacancies across the state.
“We count on law enforcement for our safety,” he said. “It’s time to put our money where our mouths are to get more well-trained cops on the beat and ensure families are safe.”
The plan mirrors language from his March budget proposal, which has not advanced in the legislature. Stein said the package would support local agencies struggling to retain officers amid a rise in fentanyl-related overdoses and violent crime.
At the same time, he sharply criticized lawmakers for what he called “painful and dangerous” cuts to mental health funding that took effect on October 1, when new Medicaid reimbursement changes began.
The governor cited figures showing $18.5 million removed from behavioral health services, $15.6 million from psychiatric inpatient and crisis beds, and $10 million from recurring funding for the Mental Health Task Force. He called on the General Assembly to fully fund Medicaid and restore those dollars immediately.
However, state records show that the Department of Health and Human Services — a cabinet-level agency under the governor’s control — approved internal reallocations after Medicaid expansion costs exceeded early projections. That reality complicates the governor’s claim that legislative inaction alone caused the reductions.
According to internal DHHS reports, the state’s psychiatric hospitals are now operating with roughly 40% of their beds empty, not because demand has fallen, but because of staffing shortages that predate the most recent cuts.
“The legislature shares the blame for inaction,” said one senior emergency management official familiar with the issue, who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly. “But the budget strain is happening on both sides of West Jones Street. Everyone saw this coming.”
DMV Modernization Progress
In the day’s most data-driven portion, Stein and DMV Commissioner Paul Tine detailed efforts to shorten wait times and expand online services at the North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles, one of the state’s most visible customer service challenges.
Last month, Stein signed Senate Bill 245, which allows North Carolinians to renew standard and Real ID driver’s licenses online twice consecutively. Since the bill took effect, more than 18,000 people have used the online renewal system — equivalent to about two days’ worth of in-person transactions across all 116 offices statewide.
SB 245 expands remote drivers license services, allowing more people to renew online and enabling teenagers to upgrade their provisional licenses online. The bill also includes provisions for cybersecurity, eCourts implementation, and hiring non-sworn administrative positions for the State Bureau of Investigation and State Highway Patrol.
Tine said the DMV has now filled 64 new examiner positions authorized in the state’s August budget adjustments, bringing staffing to 95% of full capacity statewide. He credited the hiring surge to a revamped training process and expanded partnerships with local driver education programs.
“More examiners mean shorter lines and better experiences for customers,” Stein said. “We still have work to do, but I’m proud of the progress DMV employees are making every day to serve North Carolinians.”
Tine noted that the DMV’s modernization push has also included an updated walk-in system allowing residents to monitor their place in line via text message, reducing outdoor waiting times. Still, despite the gains, many offices — particularly in fast-growing metro areas — continue to report long lines.
Stein’s remarks framed the DMV’s turnaround as evidence of bipartisan cooperation, praising the General Assembly for passing the bill. But critics noted that online renewals alone will not fully resolve capacity issues without further expansion of field offices and examiner training programs.
Hurricane Helene Recovery
Marking just over a year since Hurricane Helene devastated western North Carolina, Stein announced $9 million in new state-funded grants for 14 nonprofit Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOADs) supporting long-term recovery.
“These organizations have stepped up to help their neighbors in need,” Stein said. “When bureaucracy slows us down, they surge ahead. These funds will help them keep up the good work they’re doing to help North Carolinians rebuild their lives.”
The grants supplement $6 million awarded earlier this year to Habitat for Humanity and Baptists on Mission, which have since completed repairs on more than 500 homes.
Among the latest recipients is All Hands & Hearts, a national nonprofit that has been working in Buncombe and Haywood counties since shortly after the storm. Director of Grants Rachel Deery said the group’s $435,000 award will fund roofing, septic, and electrical repairs for 25 to 30 vulnerable households.
However, Stein’s comments about slow federal reimbursement prompted confusion. The governor said FEMA’s reimbursements had been “extremely slow” but were improving. Yet according to North Carolina Emergency Management, the state’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) application — which provides buyouts for flood-damaged homes — is not due to FEMA until October 31, 2025. That means payouts cannot begin until the state submits the paperwork and FEMA reviews it.
Stein has previously said the state continues to work closely with FEMA to expedite public assistance and infrastructure reimbursements, which are flowing more steadily.
Workforce and Economic Development
The governor also highlighted job growth and new investments in aerospace and manufacturing, noting that North Carolina ranked first in CNBC’s 2025 “Top States for Business” list — its third win in four years.
He cited recent announcements totaling 237 new jobs and $47 million in capital investment across Bladen, Greene, and Lenoir counties, as well as a new public-private partnership between the state, GE Aerospace Foundation, and the Heroes MAKE America program.
The foundation’s $500,000 donation will fund a certificate program near Fort Bragg to train veterans, National Guard members, and military spouses as FAA-certified aircraft and powerplant maintenance technicians.
“North Carolina was first in flight, and we are also the future of flight,” Stein said. “We have to make sure our people are ready for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”
Jocelyn Mitnaul Mallette, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, said the program will help the roughly 20,000 service members who transition out of the military in North Carolina each year.
“Veterans and their families aren’t looking for handouts — they’re looking for opportunity,” Mallette said. “Programs like this help them put their skills to work right here at home.”
Christian Meisner, GE Aerospace’s Chief Human Resources Officer and foundation chair, said the new training initiative complements a larger $30 million national program to train 10,000 aerospace workers over the next five years.
“Our industry is short about 5,000 certified mechanics,” Meisner said. “This program meets veterans where they are and helps build a sustainable aerospace workforce.”
Although Stein celebrated the announcement as a sign of “statewide progress,” the funding itself is private — not a state appropriation. Critics noted that the donation represents a partnership rather than a state-led investment, and that broader job growth remains uneven across rural and urban areas.
North Carolina’s aviation and aerospace industry contributes $88 billion annually to the state’s economy and supports more than 427,000 jobs, according to the Department of Commerce. The governor said sustaining that growth will depend on continued collaboration between public, private, and military partners.
Political Context and Outlook
Throughout the press conference, Stein balanced his message of progress with political pressure on the General Assembly, accusing lawmakers of redrawing congressional districts for partisan gain while failing to approve a long-overdue state budget.
“There are only two states in the country without a budget,” Stein said. “North Carolina is one of them — and we’re the only one where both chambers are controlled by the same party. They are failing the people of North Carolina.”
The governor’s critics countered that his NC Strong briefing blurred the line between governance and campaigning. Several Republican lawmakers noted that the governor’s remarks — particularly on redistricting and Medicaid — sounded more like stump speech talking points than an administrative update.
Stein, in his first term as governor, has used the NC Strong brand to promote his administration’s recovery, workforce, and safety initiatives in recent months.
Despite partisan tension, the governor emphasized collaboration where possible — especially on infrastructure, law enforcement pay, and hurricane recovery. He praised “the many public servants and nonprofit partners working to make North Carolina stronger,” while maintaining that legislative action is essential for lasting progress.
“The people of North Carolina deserve a government that works as hard as they do,” Stein said in closing. “We’ve got the talent, the ideas, and the partnerships. Now we just need the political will to follow through.”
