West Virginia governor says agency audits identified more than $168 million in potential annual savings

West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced May 18, 2026, that independent audits of three major state agencies, combined with savings identified through an executive order, could produce more than $168 million in potential annual savings.

The executive order directed state agencies to identify waste, reduce unnecessary spending and improve efficiency. Separate internal state-government reviews identified approximately $9.9 million in annual cost-saving opportunities, according to the governor’s announcement.

The announcement also identified a structural deficit involving the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, programs. It did not quantify the deficit or specify when it would affect program finances.

The savings figures could shape agency operations, public programs and future budget decisions. Morrisey characterized them as potential savings, not money already saved or legally appropriated. The announcement did not establish that the projections have been enacted or realized, and it did not provide a complete agency-by-agency accounting of the amounts.

The next decision point is whether the projected savings become part of an adopted state budget or agency plan. Until that occurs, the announcement does not identify specific service changes resulting from the audits or reviews.