North Charleston community shares federal cut concerns in Clyburn’s town hall
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) - Congressman James Clyburn, who represents South Carolina’s 6th Congressional District, held a town hall Thursday night in North Charleston.
Clyburn was joined by the National Racial Justice Network at the Royal Baptist Life and Banquet Center along Abraham Avenue. Lowcountry community members joined the representative in his sixth town hall this year, including his most recent roundtable event that occurred in Columbia Wednesday morning.
The representative discussed the community impacts of the decisions made by President Donald Trump’s administration. One decision relayed in congressman’s discussion involved a House Bill called the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act that would provide tax cuts, reduce or increase federal programs and make changes to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
The CEO of the National Racial Justice Network, Elder James Johnson, says the town hall gives the community insight into the “difficult days ahead’’ with looming potential program cuts.
“All the programs [that are] being cut from Washington, especially the SNAP program, rental assistance, Medicaid and Social Security? That affects the people right here,” Johnson says. “Not only the people that are receiving the services but the people [the programs] employ.”
The congressman also discussed the impacts of federal automobile tariffs on the area. He references the recent layoffs from the Volvo manufacturing plant in Ridgeville.
Community commenters shared concerns about the Trump administration’s impact on veterans, underserved communities and higher education.
North Charleston High School student Zuriel Nyamutsaka attended the town hall alone. He shared his concern about the impacts on higher educational institutions as he applies for college scholarships. Nyamutsaka asked questions about potential cuts to the Department of Education as well as diversity, equity and inclusion, known as DEI, programs.
“Right now, I’m 17,” Nyamutsaka said. “I’m applying for scholarships right now and a lot of scholarships that tend to affect people who are like me and are targeted for people like me can be seen as becoming illegal which I feel like is extremely concerning and disappointing.”
Nyamutsaka says potential tax cuts also strike concern for his future.
“It’s basically awarding about $60,000 to the top 1%,” Nyamutsaka said. “I’ve been researching different colleges recently and their different college tuition and $60,000… the average college tuition for out of state sometimes is $46,000. Giving somebody who is already making millions of millions of dollars and then an additionally $60,000 on top of that… it’s just ridiculous.”
Johnson says he expects several more town halls will take place to continue the conversation.
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