(The Center Square) – An estimated three-quarters of a million people in North Carolina are included as beneficiaries within the boast of Veterans Affairs pluses in the first 100 days of the presidential administration.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides benefits, health care and support services to veterans, their families, and their survivors. The Tarheel State is home to an estimated 615,000 vets, roughly 90,000 active-duty military, and about 43,000 National Guard and reservists.

Texas, Florida, California and Pennsylvania rank with North Carolina in the top five of states home to veterans. California, Texas and Virginia are the only states with more active-duty military.

“One hundred days into the second Trump administration, and VA is no longer content with poor results,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. “Under President Trump’s leadership, we have already stripped away many of the costly distractions that were coming between VA beneficiaries and the benefits they have earned. And we’re looking to make even more historic reforms to better serve our veterans.”

Not all are pleased with the changes to the VA, specifically with how the Department of Government Efficiency has impacted operations. Many workers lost their jobs.

At a March town hall event in Asheville where many topics rather than just the VA were discussed, host Rep. Chuck Edwards, R-N.C., took heat from many including a man identifying himself as a veteran whose persistence eventually led to removal from the room.

U.S. Rep. Deborah Ross, D-N.C., said earlier this year, “Nearly 6,000 veterans, including some who work for VA, have been fired by President Trump and Elon Musk. The men and women who served our country and serve our veterans deserve better.”

The VA says the promises of the 2018 MISSION Act – to allow health care at community providers and not just through the VA facilities – are being provided. It touts the camaraderie of teamwork by bringing employees back into offices.

Other items on a bullet-point list include directing savings from gender dysphoria treatments to paralyzed veterans and amputees; record numbers of disability claims processed; deployment of the VA’s electronic health record system after being “nearly dormant almost two years under the Biden administration”; and eclipsing $14 million in savings through the end of programs tied to diversity, equity and inclusion policies.

The VA also says it has sent hundreds of millions of dollars to health care, benefits and services directly supporting VA beneficiaries. Those funds were in “non-mission-critical efforts,” it says.

North Carolina’s six major military bases include the U.S. Army’s Fort Bragg and Pope Air Force Base, both in the southeastern part of the state; Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in eastern North Carolina; and U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Camp Lejeune and MCAS New River along the coast, not more than an hour’s drive from the more inland MCAS Cherry Point. There are also two U.S. Coast Guard bases along the northern coast at Elizabeth City; and the Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point on the southern coast in Brunswick County.

(The Center Square) – Increasing trade policy activity by the United States and other countries has left 8 in 10 Americans with rising concerns on the cost of things they buy, a poll originating out of North Carolina says.

“Much higher” prices are expected by 43% of respondents when asked “How much do you think the new tariffs imposed by the United States will affect the cost of things you buy?” Another 37% said they expect “somewhat higher” prices, according to a segment of the Elon University Poll released Tuesday morning.

Those results are in line with a poll released last week from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. About half expect prices to go up a lot and another 30% say somewhat higher. Most poll results released in the last week indicate some kind of question related to inflation, higher prices and trade policy, and answers reflect growing concern.

Elon University said 1,149 adults age 18 and older were interviewed April 10-17 and matched down to the 1,000 sample. Margin of error is +/- 3.58%. The university funds and operates the poll “as the neutral, nonbiased information resource.”

The demographics split was balanced for those expecting trade policy to cause “much higher” consumer prices. That includes income levels of less than $50,000 (44%), $50,000 to $100,000 (40%) and $100,000 or more (44%); Blacks (55%) and white or non-Hispanics (38%); women (49%) and men (37%); age 45 and up (44%) and ages 18-44 (42%); and those with a four-year degree (45%) and those without (42%).

Party allegiance was different for the “much higher” answer. Democrats (75%) were more represented than independents (42%) or Republicans (14%). Of those saying “somewhat higher,” 51% were Republicans, 38% independents and 21% Democrats.

Asked about summer vacation plans due to the economy, 47% anticipate little or no change and 33% plan to spend less and stay closer to home.