Justice Calls for Restoration of Budget Cuts with U.S. Department of Education Waiver in Hand | News, Sports, Jobs

West Virginia Governor Jim Justice announced on Tuesday that the state has received a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education, saving them from having to spend an additional $465 million on education programs. This waiver comes as a relief to state officials, who can now focus on restoring funding that was previously cut from the budget bill.

The waiver, which was granted for the second year in a row, allows West Virginia to use more than $1.1 billion in COVID-19 relief funds without having to meet certain education spending requirements. Governor Justice expressed his excitement over the waiver during a weekly administration briefing, highlighting the state’s efforts to support education during the pandemic.

The state received over $1.1 billion in federal funds from various COVID-19 relief acts, which were distributed to all 55 county school systems. However, West Virginia’s education spending fell short of the required levels in fiscal years 2022 and 2023, prompting the need for a waiver to avoid returning federal funds.

Despite the relief of receiving the waiver, Governor Justice expressed disappointment in the budget cuts made by the Legislature, including reductions to Medicaid and the intellectual and developmental disability waiver program. He plans to call lawmakers into a special session in May to address these cuts and restore funding to critical programs.

Overall, the waiver from the U.S. Department of Education provides a much-needed reprieve for West Virginia, allowing them to focus on supporting education and essential services for residents. The upcoming special session will be crucial in ensuring that necessary funding is restored to protect the state’s most vulnerable populations.