Trump’s proposed legal aid cuts are not only cruel, they’re costly to NC | Opinion
President Donald Trump’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget calls for eliminating the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) — the nation’s primary funder of civil legal aid. This move would devastate communities across the country, especially here in North Carolina, where the need for legal help is growing.
Cutting LSC is not just cruel — it’s financially reckless. The best reason to reject this proposal is simple math: Every $1 invested in civil legal aid in North Carolina returns $10.80 in avoided emergency costs, economic stability and public savings. That’s almost a 1,000% return on investment. Why would we ever walk away from that?
Legal Services Corporation doesn’t run legal aid programs — it funds local providers. In North Carolina, that provider is Legal Aid of North Carolina (LANC). It serves all 100 counties and tens of thousands of people.
It is the only LSC grantee in the state, and in 2024, LANC handled over 27,000 cases, directly impacting more than 69,000 people, including 32,000 children. This doesn’t even count the work done to help people get health insurance, which support thousands more.
The value of legal services LANC delivered last year was $49.6 million — a staggering sum reflecting the attorney and paralegal fees clients would have paid out of pocket. And 53% of the people LANC helped were employed, shattering the myth that legal aid is just for the unemployed.
Housed at LANC is the only LSC-funded Innovation Lab in the country. This lab develops cutting-edge legal technology to optimize service delivery and expand access to justice for more people. In an era of rising demand and limited funding, LANC is leading the way in building smarter, more efficient ways to meet the legal needs of North Carolinians.
LANC delivers justice where it’s needed most. It protects seniors from scams and abuse and helps veterans access the benefits they earned. It shields families from domestic violence, defends tenants from illegal evictions and supports workers fighting wage theft and consumer fraud. LANC leads North Carolina’s legal response after disasters, helping survivors file FEMA claims, resolve contractor disputes, and rebuild their lives.
In rural areas, where there may be few or no private attorneys, LANC is often the only legal resource available. Without it, thousands of North Carolinians would face the court system with no help and no hope.
Legal aid prevents costly public crises The legal problems LANC handles — foreclosures, abuse, denied benefits, elder exploitation — don’t stay private. When ignored, they become public emergencies. Families are forced into shelters. Seniors land in hospitals. Children are pulled from schools. Law enforcement and emergency rooms fill the gap. Taxpayers pick up the tab.
That’s why civil legal aid pays off. A national study shows an average return of $6.72 per $1 spent. In North Carolina, that return is $10.80 — among the highest in the nation. These savings come from preventing homelessness, reducing domestic violence, keeping kids in school and preserving family stability.
Congress must say no to cutting money to Legal Services Corporation, and, in turn, LANC
LSC has requested $2.13 billion for the 2026 fiscal year. That’s pennies on the federal dollar, but it would go far to ensure Americans have access to justice — no matter their income or ZIP code.
North Carolina’s Congressional delegation should oppose this proposed cut. LANC is not only one of the state’s most effective nonprofits — it’s also one of the smartest public investments we can make.
Civil legal aid isn’t charity. It’s infrastructure. It’s stability. And it’s one of the best deals taxpayers get. Let’s not throw that away.
This story was originally published June 5, 2025 at 5:00 AM.