With social safety nets cut, Americans in rural areas look for ways to cope

By Emily Russell

Published November 6, 2025 at 4:45 AM EST

Millions of Americans rely on federal subsidies and programs to make ends meet. But the shutdown and other cuts have them looking elsewhere for help. Here's how residents in rural New York are coping.

Emily Russell

Support nonprofit, fact-based public service journalism

WEKU depends on support from those who view and listen to our content. There's no paywall here. Please support WEKU with your donation.

Contribute now

Related Content

Democrats' big wins send mixed signals to Senate on how to end the shutdown

Sam Gringlas

Democrats won big in key elections this week. But rather than provide clarity, those victories have sent competing signals to lawmakers in the Senate about how to end the ongoing government shutdown.
NPR News

Bird flu surges among poultry amid a scaled back federal response

Will Stone

Migrating wild birds are spreading the virus to domesticated flocks, increasing the risk of eventually seeing a human outbreak. Scientists are troubled by the muted federal response.
The Commonwealth

Kentucky Coal Employment Slumps to Record Low In 2nd Quarter

Curtis Tate

Employment in the Kentucky coal industry drops to record lows
NPR News

The federal government is still shut down. Here's what that means across the country

The NPR Network

The federal government remains shut down, in what is now the longest shutdown in U.S. history. Reporters from the NPR Network are digging into the ways the government shutdown is playing out in their region.
NPR News

Trump says election puts shutdown pressure on Republicans but wants to end filibuster

Stephen Fowler

After Republicans lost big in Tuesday's elections, adding pressure to end the government shutdown, President Trump pushed changes to Senate rules to bypass the need for Democratic-votes.