Governor Cites Financial Gap for Family Aid Program, Hints at Cuts and Puzzles Lawmakers

While TANF cuts loom, Morrisey considers giving money to education group linked to his donations • West Virginia Watch

Gov. Patrick Morrisey, shown Jan. 6, 2026, wants to expand Star Academy, an education program for at-risk youth, in West Virginia using federal funds.(Photo courtesy of the West Virginia Office of Gov. Patrick Morrisey)Gov. Patrick Morrisey is mulling over giving up to $16 million dollars of West Virginia’s federal anti-poverty grant to Star Academy, a for-profit education company that is supposed to help struggling middle-school students. At th…

West Virginia lawmakers expect answers from Governor Morrisey on alleged TANF deficit

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WOWK) -- West Virginia lawmakers are still in the dark over an alleged $40 million deficit coming from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. During House interim meetings last week, Governor Patrick Morrisey said the program was operating on a $40 million "structural deficit."  Mostly funded from federal dollars, lawmakers say they’ve more often seen unused surplus dollars coming out of the program. “When…

Governor cites financial gap for family aid program, hints at cuts and puzzles lawmakers

West Virginia leaders are still assessing recent comments by Gov. Patrick Morrisey, who indicated the state has a $40 million structural gap in funding for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. The safety net program, often called TANF, provides monthly cash payments and support services to low-income families with children to help them achieve economic stability and self-sufficiency. It is a federally funded, state-run program often referred…

Morrisey signals potential cuts to WV’s childcare assistance, clothing voucher program due to debt ‘I’m not going to support cutting childcare subsidies or clothing vouchers at all,’ said Del. Evan Worrell, R-Cabell

By Amelia Ferrell Knisely for West Virginia Watch Cuts could be coming to West Virginia’s childcare assistance and a voucher program that helps low-income families afford school clothes. Those programs - along with several children’s support services - are funded through Temporary Assistance for Needy Families money, a federal block grant that the states administer. [...]