FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 3, 2025
Contact:
John Neurohr, [email protected], 717-364-6452
APPALACHIA – As the federal government shutdown is set to move into a second week, ReImagine Appalachia released the following statement regarding the impacts on communities across the region:
“The official government shutdown that began at midnight on Wednesday is merely the latest chapter in what has been a systematic shuttering of vital federal programs and cuts to investments that Appalachian communities depend on. While some may focus only on the components of the federal government that have been affected this week, the reality is that the systematic dismantling of federal agencies, the reversal of Inflation Reduction Act investments, and proposed budget cuts have already been harming our region for months.
“This administration has been steadily hollowing out the agencies that protect our health, water, and economic future. By slashing EPA’s workforce by more than 4,000 staff and blocking congressionally-appropriated funding, they have already implemented their own unilateral shutdown of programs that matter to Appalachian families.
“The impacts on our region are severe and growing. In Appalachia, we’ve watched as vital climate investments have been clawed back, rural healthcare programs threatened, and environmental protections weakened. These are not abstract policy debates but direct threats to the health and economic prosperity of our communities. When EPA funding and staffing are undercut, it doesn’t just hurt federal workers and their families — it hurts all families across Appalachia who depend on clean water, safe communities, and protected natural resources.
“In these times, it must be stated: federal programs and investments are not wasteful spending — they are essential building blocks for a thriving and growing Appalachian region. These budget battles are about more than just ‘keeping the lights on.’ They’re about whether our federal government will uphold its responsibility to protect public health, invest in communities, and secure a prosperous future for all Americans, including those in Appalachia.
“ReImagine Appalachia calls on Congress to pass a bipartisan budget that invests in our region, protects vital programs, and recognizes the essential role that federal workers play in making government work for our communities.”