HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — The House of Delegates Health and Human Resources chairman says he won’t support cuts to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding.
Chairman Evan Worrell, R-Cabell, was a guest Wednesday on MetroNews “Talkline.”
Worrell said the House finance committee was meeting when Gov. Patrick Morrisey indicated there was a $40 million structural gap in TANF funding.
Morrisey, responding to questions during a press conference last week, suggested the state might have to respond to a financial gap by making cuts to West Virginia’s childcare assistance and a voucher program that helps low-income families afford school clothes.
Worrell said TANF helps lots of people in the state.
“I think there was talks of childcare subsidies or even closing vouchers, and once again, TANF is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and we have a lot of needy families in this state. So, I would not support any cuts.”
TANF is invaluable for families in need, Worrell noted.
“I want to clarify this, this isn’t something people sit on for their lives, it’s not a welfare program that people stay on generationally, this is something that helps people get people on their feet,” he said.
Worrell said Morrisey’s conference and announcement took him by surprise.
“I immediately had some reporters come up and ask my opinions, and I was unaware that there was a press conference talking about a structural deficit in TANF,” Worrell said.
Morrisey’s declaration of a deficit has puzzled lawmakers in the House. Democrats and Republicans alike have asked to see the data before making any decisions.
Worrell said his review of the funding may not match Morrisey’s findings.
“We have funded the state portion of that for the past eight years at the same level, pre-COVID, during COVID, and after COVID. What is surprising, we’re actually seeing the federal block grant come in higher than what it had been in previous years, just a little bit higher, but the point is (that) it’s not lower,” Worrell said.
West Virginia budget trends and TANF
A review of West Virginia’s general revenue budget over the past few years shows relatively flat spending for TANF until recently.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families runs through a federal block grant that requires a state match called “maintenance of effort.”
Both the federal and state portions were pretty stable from 2021 to 2025. Then the state budget data shows a jump that reflects the amount the governor cites.
The most significant driver is a $42,000,000 increase in the “Current Expenses” category of the federal TANF block grant.
Fiscal Year 2021
State Maintenance of Effort: $25,819,096
Federal Block Grant: $127,660,783
Total: $153,479,879
Fiscal Year 2022
State Maintenance of Effort: $25,819,096
Federal Block Grant: $127,725,762
Total: $153,544,858
Fiscal Year 2023
State Maintenance of Effort: $25,819,096
Federal Block Grant: $133,070,827 (includes $4,617,546 in Federal Coronavirus Pandemic funds)
Total: $158,889,923
Fiscal Year 2024
State Maintenance of Effort: $25,819,096
Federal Block Grant: $133,678,671 (includes $4,617,546 in Federal Coronavirus Pandemic funds)
Total: $159,497,767
Fiscal Year 2025
State Maintenance of Effort: $23,237,186
Federal Block Grant: $134,664,564
Total: $157,901,750
Fiscal Year 2026
State Maintenance of Effort: $25,819,096
Federal Block Grant: $176,664,564
Total: $202,483,660
Fiscal Year 2027
State Maintenance of Effort: $25,819,096
Federal Block Grant: $177,081,080
Total: $202,900,176
The fiscal 2026 budget appears to mark the transition where this gap is no longer covered by carryover funds and is instead reflected as an increase in budgeted federal spending authority.
Morrisey’s campaigning
Worrell also mentioned it’s a tense time in the West Virginia legislature. Morrisey was extremely vocal leading up to the Primary Election earlier this month, and Worrell said that may have ruffled some feathers.
“The Governor, it’s no secret, went out and campaigned against some of the incumbent legislators,” Worrell said. “I think it’s tense right now, and he’s going to have a new legislature in January.”
“There’s going to be at least thirty new members in the House, in part due to some of his campaigning he’s done in the primary.”
MetroNews Statewide Correspondent Brad McElhinny contributed to this story.