March 14, 2026 Governor Morrisey Announces WorkFIRST Initiative ...

Charleston, WV - Governor Patrick Morrisey today announced the creation of the WorkFIRST Taskforce, a new initiative aimed at reshaping how West Virginia delivers workforce and safety-net services while strengthening workforce participation across the state.

"Government should be in the business of helping people succeed, not trapping them in dependency," said Governor Morrisey. "WorkFIRST is about restoring a culture that values work and opportunity. By aligning job training, employment services, and assistance programs, we can help more West Virginians enter the workforce."

The WorkFIRST model is built on a simple premise: government services should prioritize pathways to employment. The Taskforce will examine ways to consolidate employment, training, and social service programs into a more integrated workforce system that positions services like SNAP, Unemployment Insurance, and WIC as short-term bridges-not long-term endpoints-on the path to self-sufficiency.

The WorkFIRST Taskforce will be led by Christine Davies, Deputy Secretary for Economic Development and Workforce Participation at the West Virginia Department of Commerce. Davies brings 25 years of cross-sector leadership experience to this role, including management of economic, energy, and development initiatives at the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and U.S. Department of State; and advancement of public sector solution development at Microsoft.

Serving for the House of Delegates will be Delegate Tristan Leavitt of District 53, an attorney and former member of the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board who has built his career around government accountability and effectiveness. Leavitt, a Georgetown Law graduate who also serves as president of Empower Oversight, a nonpartisan government accountability organization, has deep experience in federal oversight and whistleblower protections, and sits on the House committees on Economic Development, and Government Organization.

Senator Mark Maynard of District 6 will serve as the Senate representative. A Marshall University graduate and small business owner from Wayne County, Senator Maynard has served in the West Virginia Senate since 2015 and currently chairs the committees on Transportation and Infrastructure. He is a member of Senate committees on Finance, Government Organization, and Health and Human Resources. He brings over a decade of legislative leadership to the effort.

"This initiative fits squarely within our Backyard Brawl effort to make government work better for the people of West Virginia," Governor Morrisey added. "We're going to challenge outdated systems, eliminate inefficiencies, and make sure our workforce programs actually connect people with good-paying jobs. That's how we grow our economy and strengthen our state."