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. Actually, 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 need to begin out, to begin with, thanks for having me on this system. One piece of data popping out of West Virginia. We have had a mining accident, and we now have groups down in search of a lacking miner. I simply need to say that our hearts and prayers exit to the household of that miner. We’re doing all the pieces we will to find that individual. Now, on the subject of the federal government shutdown, we’re doing all the pieces we will to assist these in want. On the very starting, I began standing up for the federal staff, and we introduced that, to handle a few 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 be sure that nobody in West Virginia goes hungry. Our individuals are hurting proper now, and I am doing all the pieces I can to resolve the issues whereas Washington bickers. However I do need to be clear, this shutdown may come to an finish instantly. 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 out there for a while. Folks ought to reap the benefits of that, and let’s get the federal government reopened after which we will 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 mentioned 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, nicely, to begin with, I need to emphasize the Trump administration has been an important accomplice to work with all through the previous yr 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 individual to achieve 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 assets on the meals banks. We’re truly making a distinction to maintain individuals from getting hungry. So we have been in very shut contact with the Trump administration, and so they’ve been very cooperative. Look, I believe they know, and everybody’s annoyed, that you simply’re six votes brief. These Democrats are saying no to reopening the federal government. It is a Schumer shutdown. I believe President Trump is bending over backwards —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Nicely. —
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: — Nicely. —
GOV. MORRISEY: — And the broader financial points at massive.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, there may be the combat within the courts, particularly, about offering full meals help. The Trump administration initiated that. I need 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, once you speak about SNAP, you are speaking about largely Democrats. However I am President, I need to assist everyone. I need to assist Democrats and Republicans. However once you speaking about SNAP, for those who 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 believe they know they have been very supportive of loads of the efforts that we’re taking to be sure that individuals do not get hungry. That is the final word objective. We have now to ensure 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 motive why —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Yeah. —
GOV. MORRISEY: — why they don’t seem to be getting the assets. It is as a result of individuals are insisting so as to add all these new items on prime of only a invoice to maintain the federal government open. —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — Nicely —
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 in the near past, the conversations we’re having about President Trump’s Rural Well being Transformation invoice to place assets up entrance to avoid wasting public expenditures on the again finish. —
MARGARET BRENNAN: — I need to ask you about that. —
GOV. MORRISEY: — That is the type of good working relationship we have had.
MARGARET BRENNAN: I need 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’s this Rural Well being Transformation Program Congress arrange. Your state may get $100 million a yr for 5 years, however your West Virginia Hospital Affiliation says that your hospitals are going to lose greater than a billion {dollars} per yr due to this newest Huge Stunning Invoice Republicans handed. How do you make up that type of shortfall?
GOV. MORRISEY: Nicely, I believe what President Trump and RFK and Dr. Oz try to do is widespread sense. If you happen to subscribe to the adage a ounce of prevention is value a pound of treatment, what they’re attempting to do is make investments the one largest sum of money in bettering rural well being. And in West Virginia meaning all the pieces as a result of we’re a really rural state. So the assets 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 assets the correct means —
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 widespread sense method 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 go away it there. We’re out of time. Thanks. We’ll be proper again.
