¶ Overview
- Harrigan defended the DOGE cuts.
- Harrigan supported codifying DOGE’s cuts.
- Harrigan faced DOGE-enraged constituents at a district open house.
- DOGE’s cuts harmed North Carolinians.
- DOGE cuts harmed North Carolina’s health care.
- DOGE cuts harmed North Carolina’s military families.
- DOGE cuts harmed research and training in North Carolina.
¶ Harrigan Supported DOGE Cuts That Harmed North Carolinians
¶ Harrigan Defended The DOGE Cuts
Harrigan Claimed That The DOGE Cuts Saved Taxpayers “A Substantial Amount Of Money.” According to the Washington Reporter, “Washington Reporter: How has the DOGE agenda helped your district? Rep. Pat Harrigan: It has saved the American taxpayer a substantial amount of money. They have really shined a light on the waste, fraud, and abuse that exist within government that have been systemic, long term abuses of taxpayer dollars. Curbing this allows for the long term stability of these programs and allows for important programs like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, that ordinary Americans count on, to be preserved for the people who have earned those benefits.” [Washington Reporter, 4/29/25]
Harrigan Claimed He Was Disappointed That DOGE Cuts Weren’t Implemented by Congress. Representative Pat Harrigan posted, “Elon’s not the only one…Voters sent a clear mandate in November, and @HouseGOP needs to honor it by getting DOGE cuts to the floor and across the finish line.” [Twitter, @RepPatHarrigan, 5/25/25]
Harrigan Claimed That DOGE’s Cuts “Need To Be Relentless.” [Instagram, @reppatharrigan, 5/28/25]
Harrigan Claimed That He Would Do His Part To Make Sure DOGE “Leads To Real, Lasting Change.” Representative Pat Harrigan posted, “Thank you for your service, @ElonMusk, and for everything you’ve done to expose waste, defend free speech, and challenge the broken machinery of Washington. DOGE set a new standard for what focused, impactful public service should be. I’ll do my part to make sure it leads to real, lasting change.” [Twitter, @RepPatHarrigan, 5/28/25]
[Transcript] Pat Harrigan Defended Precedent For Federal Workforce Reductions According to CNN: This Morning, “when you look back at historical changes that have happened with our federal workforce, I’d point back to 1995 with President Clinton when he let 400,000 federal workers go to make things a little bit leaner, a little bit meaner. This has happened before. There’s precedent for this.” [Trasncript. CNN: This Morning, 3/21/25]
¶ Harrigan Supported Codifying DOGE’s Cuts
Harrigan Claimed That Congress “Must” Codify DOGE Spending Cuts. Representative Pat Harrigan, “Congress MUST codify @DOGE’s spending cuts!” [Twitter, @RepPatHarrigan, 6/4/25]
¶ Harrigan Voted To Codify The DOGE Cuts
Harrigan Voted For The Recessions Act Of 2025 Which Would Codify DOGE’s Cuts. According to a press release from Congressman Pat Harrigan, “Today, Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) voted to pass H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, which delivers $9.4 billion in targeted spending cuts and reflects the first wave of reforms from the Department of Government Efficiency. The bill advances President Trump’s mandate to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse across the federal government.” [Press Release – Congressman Pat Harrigan, 6/12/25]
- Harrigan Claimed That The Bill Cut “Billions From Bloated Programs That Don’t Serve The American People.” According to a press release from Congressman Pat Harrigan, “‘The days of sending American tax dollars to corrupt foreign governments and activist-controlled agencies are coming to an end,’ said Congressman Harrigan. ‘This bill cuts billions from bloated programs that don’t serve the American people. We are done funding the enemies of accountability, and we are done apologizing for putting taxpayers first.’” [Press Release – Congressman Pat Harrigan, 6/12/25]
¶ February 2025: Harrigan Faced DOGE-Enraged Constituents At A District Open House
Harrigan’s Constituents Packed Into His Open House With Messages Opposing Both He And Trump; Harrigan Walked Away From The Conflict After A 10 Minute Speech. According to the Hickory Daily Record, “Around 200 people came to Appalachian State’s Hickory campus for an open house at N.C 10th Congressional District Rep. Pat Harrigan’s new office on Friday, Feb. 21. Not everyone was there to see the interior design. A few in the crowd, gathered in the atrium of the building, held signs with messages of opposition to Harrigan, a Republican, and President Donald Trump. Some booed during a prayer before Harrigan spoke. [...] He discussed ways to contact his office before inviting the public to tour the new office and walking away. Leaving the podium after around 10 minutes of speaking left some people angry. ‘Take our questions here,’ some chanted as Harrigan walked away.” [Hickory Daily Record, 2/21/25]
- Harrigan’s Constituents Said They Felt Helpless And Asked “Pat, Where’s Your Integrity? Dump (Elon) Musk.” According to the Hickory Daily Record, “Around 15 people waited outside the App State building, holding signs that had messages of opposition to Harrigan and President Trump. Iredell County resident Amy McLaurin was holding a sign outside of the building that said, ‘Pat, Where’s your integrity? Dump (Elon) Musk.’ ‘I just feel like there’s so many of us feeling so helpless that feel like we have to do something,’ McLaurin said. ‘I don’t know what to do. We can sit here and complain to each other, but we finally sought out groups that guided us that said, ‘Hey, we’ve got to make our voice heard.’’” [Hickory Daily Record, 2/21/25]
- An NC Newsline Op-Ed Claimed That Harrigan “Quickly Found Himself Retreating From The Podium Amidst A Hail Of Pointed Questions And Angry Complaints About DOGE” According to an NC Newsline op-ed by Rob Schofield, “The depth of the concerns to which the federal cuts have quickly given rise was evident last week when newly elected U.S. Rep. Pat Harrigan of North Carolina's reliably Republican 10th congressional district tried to hold an in-district open house and quickly found himself retreating from the podium amidst a hail of pointed questions and angry complaints about DOGE.” [Rob Schofield Op-Ed – NC Newsline, 2/25/25]
¶ DOGE’s Cuts Harmed North Carolinians
¶ DOGE’s Cuts Harmed North Carolina’s Health Care
$2.3 Million In Federal Funding For Tobacco Prevention In North Carolina Was Terminated. According to WBTV, “In May, the official letter came: the N.C. DHHS’s federal funds designated for tobacco prevention had been terminated. That amounted to $2.3 million annually, funding much of the DHHS’s tobacco prevention branch: Herndon and eight of her staffers were furloughed, leaving just three early-career professionals with jobs.” [WBTV, 6/26/25]
- The Programs Terminated Also Included Efforts To Curb Youth Vaping. According to WBTV, “At a statewide level, many of the department’s tobacco prevention efforts have ended or been severely cut back – best practices developed out of decades of research for stopping youth from taking up smoking, protecting nonsmokers from smoking environments, and helping smokers get assistance to quit. That includes efforts to curb youth vaping.” [WBTV, 6/26/25]
NC Department OF Health And Human Services Lost $171 Million From DOGE Cuts. According to WFMY, “NC Department of Health and Human Services – $171 million” [WFMY, 4/21/25]
- The Cuts Would Eliminate At Least 80 Jobs And Cut Various Health Programs. According to WFMY, “The North Carolina Department of Human Services is taking one of the biggest hits, losing at least $171 million. A spokesperson tells us the department will have to eliminate at least 80 jobs and that the cuts will directly affect: Immunization efforts The new NC Immunization Registry Infectious disease tracking and response Behavioral health programs Substance use disorder services” [WFMY, 4/21/25]
¶ DOGE Cuts Harmed North Carolina’s Military Families
DOGE Cancelled A Grant To Help Middle School Girls Who Were In Military-Connected Families And Attended Local Public Schools Enroll In STEM Related Courses. According to the Center for American Progress, “DOGE also canceled a grant to Fayetteville, North Carolina, to help middle school girls who are both in military-connected families and attend local public schools enroll in STEM-related courses. The area around Fayetteville includes one of the largest U.S. military bases, making this loss particularly significant for the community.” [Center For American Progress, 6/9/25]
¶ DOGE Cuts Harmed Research And Training In North Carolina
DOGE Cut $11 Million For The SERVE Center At UNC Greensboro Which Researches Ways To Help Students Both In And Out Of The Classroom. According to WFMY, “One of the most significant cuts locally is hitting the SERVE Center at UNC Greensboro, which is losing over $11 million in Department of Education funding. The SERVE Center researches ways to help students thrive both in and out of the classroom. The Vice Chancellor for Research and Engagement at UNCG, Dr. Sherine Obare, says the cut will mean ‘we are no longer able to do that specific work. However, there are other programs that SERVE carries out that support K-12 schools, and we will support those schools as much as we can.’” [WFMY, 4/21/25]
DOGE Cut $15 Million From High Point University Which Was Meant To Train New Teachers And Principles. According to WFMY, “High Point University is out $15 million for a program that trains new teachers and principals. The school says it's helping affected grad students transition to other funding sources.” [WFMY, 4/21/25]
Winston-Salem State University Lost $3 Million For A Teacher Training Program. According to WFMY, “Winston-Salem State University will lose $3 million for a similar teacher training program.” [WFMY, 4/21/25]
Wake Forest University Lost $18 Million Meant To Support Efforts To Preserve The Amazon Rainforest. According to WFMY, “Wake Forest University is losing $1.8 million from a grant meant to support efforts to preserve the Amazon rainforest.” [WFMY, 4/21/25]
The Research Triangle Institute Lost $228.5 Million In DOGE Cuts. According to WFMY, “Research Triangle Institute – $228.5 million” [WFMY, 4/21/25]