THE CASH STUFF FOR JULY 16, 2026

 GOP CUTS MINORITY

HEALTH & BUSINESS

OFFICES IN NEW STATE 

BUDGET

By Cash Michaels

Contributing writer 

If you’re a North Carolinian of color, the new but belated state budget that the Republican-led NC General Assembly finally passed after over a year and Gov. Josh Stein signed this week doesn’t have much for you to celebrate.

Keeping in line with its policy of eliminating all things DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion), the legislature abolished the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses. Those are businesses in North Carolina owned and operated by Blacks, Hispanics, females, disabled or other socially or economically groups or communities.

Run by the Dept of Administration under the Small Business Enterprise program, the DOA website now states, “HUB Program Eliminated by State Budget - We regret to inform you that the recent state budget enacted by the NC General Assembly eliminates the Office for Historically Underutilized Businesses. We sincerely appreciate the partnerships we have formed over the past 25+ years and the progress made to increase the number and types of businesses competing for government contracts across the state. The NC Small Business Enterprise Program will move to the Division of Purchase & Contract, with more details coming soon. We are grateful for your support during this transition. Thank you for all that you do for the state of North Carolina.” 

The second major state office of concern to people of color across North Carolina caught in the GOP budget crossfire is the Office of Minority Health and Health and Health Disparities. Operated under the NC Dept. of Health and Human Services, the OMHHD worked to “…eliminate health disparities for all individuals and keeps communities healthy, safe and connected to needed resources and services. OMHHD serves with a partnership-driven approach.

Even though the name of this state office hasn’t changed yet, its website has not posted a “We regret to inform you” message. Instead, its website language speaks of its mission as to promote and advocate for the elimination of health disparities and to ensure fair access to care, especially for populations historically marginalized in North Carolina. OMHHD helps lead an agency-wide strategy that works to remove barriers, close gaps and improve health outcomes across all communities.

The website also stated that the OMHHD has been in place for more than 30 years. All of its duties have now been transferred to DHHS’ Division of Public Health.

Gov. Stein lamented the changes made to those two offices in the new budget.

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