The next is the transcript of the interview with West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey, a Republican, that aired on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan” on Nov. 9, 2025.
MARGARET BRENNAN: We go now to the Republican Governor of West Virginia Patrick Morrisey, who joins us from Charleston. Good morning to you, sir.
GOVERNOR PATRICK MORRISEY: Hey, good morning, Margaret. Good to be with you.
MARGARET BRENNAN: So your state has one of many highest poverty charges within the nation. Practically 16% of residents depend on meals stamps, that SNAP program we have been speaking about. In truth, the very first meals stamp pilot program started in West Virginia again within the Sixties. Given the present shutdown and the way rural your state is, I’m wondering can you get assist to those that want it proper now?
GOV. MORRISEY: Completely, look nice query. I do wish to begin out, to start with, thanks for having me on this system. One piece of knowledge popping out of West Virginia. We have had a mining accident, and we now have groups down searching for a lacking miner. I simply wish to say that our hearts and prayers exit to the household of that miner. We’re doing every part we are able to to find that particular person. Now, in relation to the federal government shutdown, we’re doing every part we are able to to assist these in want. On the very starting, I began standing up for the federal staff, and we introduced that, to deal with a number of the considerations with meals, we had been going to ship vital {dollars} to the meals banks. By tomorrow, that’ll be as much as $13 million. I’ve activated the Nationwide Guard and we’re doing issues to guarantee that nobody in West Virginia goes hungry. Our persons are hurting proper now, and I am doing every part I can to resolve the issues whereas Washington bickers. However I do wish to be clear, this shutdown might come to an finish straight away. It is as much as Chuck Schumer or simply having six extra Democrats step throughout the road. There’s been a clear CR on the desk obtainable for a while. Folks ought to reap the benefits of that, and let’s get the federal government reopened after which we are able to go in regards to the enterprise of fixing the various different issues going through our nation.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah. I am sorry to listen to in regards to the mining accident. However on the problem of meals stamps, Governor Moore of Maryland stated that he had been instructed the state can be punished, primarily, for fronting the cash. Is that the message the federal authorities additionally gave to you. West Virginia will not get these {dollars} again?
GOV. MORRISEY: No, effectively, to start with, I wish to emphasize the Trump administration has been a terrific companion to work with all through the previous 12 months by way of the financial progress that we’re making right here in West Virginia.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Certain.
GOV. MORRISEY: But additionally we have reached out, I used to be the primary particular person to succeed in out to the federal authorities, so we had our nationwide parks reopened.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah.
GOV. MORRISEY: And now we’re working by activating the guard and placing sources on the meals banks. We’re really making a distinction to maintain individuals from getting hungry. So we have been in very shut contact with the Trump administration, they usually’ve been very cooperative. Look, I feel they know, and everybody’s annoyed, that you just’re six votes quick. These Democrats are saying no to reopening the federal government. It is a Schumer shutdown. I feel President Trump is bending over backwards —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Properly. —
GOV. MORRISEY: — To be useful, and I am excited in regards to the issues he is doing by way of how he is dealing with this —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Properly. —
GOV. MORRISEY: — And the broader financial points at giant.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Properly, there may be the combat within the courts, particularly, about offering full meals support. The Trump administration initiated that. I wish to play one thing for you as a result of 70% of West Virginians voted for President Trump within the final election. However here is how he described the meals stamp program.
PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP: Largely, if you speak about SNAP, you are speaking about largely Democrats. However I am President, I wish to assist everyone. I wish to assist Democrats and Republicans. However if you speaking about SNAP, if you happen to look, it is largely Democrats. They’re hurting their very own individuals.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Have you ever made the White Home conscious of the ache from the meals SNAP, the meals program disruption, particularly?
GOV. MORRISEY: Yeah, so we have been working carefully with the White Home, and I feel they know they have been very supportive of loads of the efforts that we’re taking to guarantee that individuals do not get hungry. That is the final word purpose. We have now to verify we’re defending our individuals. Margaret, you are proper. We have now 270,000 plus individuals on SNAP, however as soon as once more, there’s one purpose why —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Yeah. —
GOV. MORRISEY: — why they don’t seem to be getting the sources. It is as a result of persons are insisting so as to add all these new items on prime of only a invoice to maintain the federal government open. —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Properly —
GOV. MORRISEY: — That is the priority we now have. However we have been getting actually good response from the Trump administration throughout the board. —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Okay. —
GOV. MORRISEY: — Whether or not we’re speaking in regards to the meals points, whether or not we’re speaking about our power jobs and even only recently, the conversations we’re having about President Trump’s Rural Well being Transformation invoice to place sources up entrance to save lots of public expenditures on the again finish. —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — I wish to ask you about that. —
GOV. MORRISEY: — That is the type of good working relationship we have had.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I wish to ask you about that as a result of I do know West Virginia has one of many highest charges within the nation for presidency insurance coverage. There’s concern about rural hospitals. There may be this Rural Well being Transformation Program Congress arrange. Your state might get $100 million a 12 months for 5 years, however your West Virginia Hospital Affiliation says that your hospitals are going to lose greater than a billion {dollars} per 12 months due to this newest Massive Lovely Invoice Republicans handed. How do you make up that type of shortfall?
GOV. MORRISEY: Properly, I feel what President Trump and RFK and Dr. Oz are attempting to do is frequent sense. Should you subscribe to the adage a ounce of prevention is price a pound of remedy, what they’re attempting to do is make investments the one largest amount of cash in bettering rural well being. And in West Virginia which means every part as a result of we’re a really rural state. So the sources can go to spend money on our individuals, to spend money on our hospitals, our suppliers and the know-how that really can transfer the needle by way of bettering well being care outcomes —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Yeah. —
GOV. MORRISEY: — up entrance. Attacking weight problems and COPD and substance use dysfunction. —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Okay. —
GOV. MORRISEY: — So we’re actually enthusiastic about that, as a result of if we apply the sources the appropriate approach —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Yeah. —
GOV. MORRISEY: — I do not suppose we’ll have the diminution of public expenditures on the again finish.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay.
GOV. MORRISEY: That is the frequent sense strategy we’re seeing from the Trump administration —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Okay. —
GOV. MORRISEY: — that we’re not seeing from Schumer —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Alright. —
GOV. MORRISEY: — and Democrats in Congress.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Governor, we now have to depart it there. We’re out of time. Thanks. We’ll be proper again.
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