Governor Morrisey Joins U.S. Secretaries Rollins and Kennedy to Announce Federal Waiver to Remove Soda as a Taxpayer-Subsidized Entitlement Under SNAP in West Virginia

Washington, D.C. - On August 4, 2025, Governor Patrick Morrisey joined the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert Kennedy for the signing of a federal waiver allowing West Virginia to remove soda as an entitlement under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

“Thanks to Secretary Rollins, Secretary Kennedy Jr., and the Trump administration, West Virginia is on the forefront when it comes to Making America Healthy Again,” said Governor Morrisey. “We are cleaning up the food, getting active, and rewarding healthy choices. Today’s signing of our SNAP waiver to remove soda as a taxpayer-subsidized entitlement is another step toward reversing negative health trends and helping West Virginians live long, healthy, and purposeful lives.”

The waiver allows West Virginia to:

• Remove soda as a taxpayer-subsidized entitlement under SNAP. 
• Redirect taxpayer-funded assistance toward more nutritious food. 
• Support long-term strategies to fight obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

This move builds on West Virginia’s broader health agenda, the ‘Four Pillars of a Healthy West Virginia.’ West Virginia also recently became the first state in the nation to restrict artificial dyes in school food. 

“In West Virginia, we’re cleaning up our food and getting people moving because in West Virginia, we don’t just follow, we lead. We will make West Virginia healthy again, added Governor Morrisey.