CHARLESTON, W.Va. — After overcoming the challenges of homelessness as a teenager and domestic violence in West Virginia, 23-year-old Ireland Daugherty is now finding her footing. With her own apartment, a steady job, and pursuit of a bachelor’s degree, she feels a sense of stability. Similarly, Ashley Cain, 36, is celebrating four years of sobriety and is actively involved with a nonprofit that specializes in transforming derelict factories and coal mines into sites for manufacturing and solar projects.
Both women have greatly benefited from federally funded programs that provide not only a safety net but also job opportunities in one of the poorest states in the U.S., where nonprofits are crucial for offering essential services such as healthcare, education, and economic development. Daugherty, who works with young adults transitioning out of the foster care system, acknowledges the significant reliance on government aid for support. “We are a state that heavily, heavily relies on government funding,” she said, emphasizing that this dependency is a stark reality for many in West Virginia.
Recently, the White House decided to pause federal loans and grant programs, leading to confusion and disruption for organizations across the country, particularly in rural states like West Virginia. Although the Trump administration later overturned this measure, a federal appeals court ruled that not all funding had been reinstated. This situation is especially precarious for West Virginia, a state that already struggles with numerous social and economic issues, as it has historically supported Trump in past elections.
West Virginia faces alarming statistics, such as the highest rate of opioid overdose deaths and significant numbers of children in foster care, as well as alarming rates of obesity and diabetes. Furthermore, one in four children in the state lives in poverty, and pressing infrastructure issues abound, including contaminated drinking water and unreliable internet access. There was a hopeful outlook for revitalization thanks to anticipated federal spending.
Among those feeling the impact of halted projects is the nonprofit Coalfield Development, where Cain is employed. This organization has worked to secure nearly $700 million for various projects linked to federal spending initiatives, generating around 1,000 jobs specifically within West Virginia. Their efforts included similar projects in Kentucky and Pennsylvania that aimed to clean up abandoned mine sites or establish solar farms. With the ongoing uncertainty, Coalfield Development’s forward momentum is now stalled indefinitely, leaving CEO Jacob Hannah grappling with the consequences. “It’s been a lot of, how do we figure out how to keep doing our work and not just sit and wait and have a death spiral?” he expressed.
During a visit to Huntington, West Virginia’s second-largest city, Cain and Hannah assessed a former coal train refurbishment site that was set to become a hub for manufacturing and innovation, where workers should have been diligently engaged in various repairs. “It’s like everything has culminated to the right point, but there’s the starting line, and here’s us,” Hannah lamented. “We just can’t get to it.” For Cain, who benefited from the workforce training through Coalfield Development, the ongoing uncertainty has dampened the workplace morale. “The awareness of what could happen has really affected people’s attitudes,” she noted, reflecting on the difficulties faced by individuals striving to create better lives in the face of instability.
Back in Morgantown, Daugherty is losing sleep over the delayed reimbursements from a grant provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that supports her nonprofit. Having entered the state’s care system at 16, Daugherty points to additional hurdles for many—low self-esteem, trauma, and high depression rates. The lack of timely support led her organization to impose a freeze on spending, which impacted vital programs, including one that serves middle school girls aimed at enhancing mental health. Daugherty is concerned, stating that current executive orders pose serious risks to the quality of life for many West Virginians.
Many nonprofits are still grappling with the ramifications of this funding freeze. Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Council of Nonprofits, revealed that while some organizations have regained access to their funds, a greater number remain in a state of uncertainty. “Unfortunately, much of the confusion, chaos, and harm that the directive unleashed hasn’t ended,” she stated, highlighting the detrimental effects on the community. The crisis has compelled several organizations to make hasty financial decisions that could have lasting impacts.
The Appalachian Center for Independent Living, which aids people with disabilities, faced staffing challenges when it had to lay off employees only to bring them back shortly after receiving reimbursement. The West Virginia Food and Farm Coalition expressed concern that decades of trust-building with local farmers might be jeopardized if programs were to halt. “If that all goes away or if that’s all significantly paused, they will lose trust in us,” remarked executive director Spencer Moss.
Ryan Kelly, who oversees Rural Health Associations in several southern states, contends that while the freeze was ill-conceived, the initiative to identify wasteful spending has merit. “When you’re making changes, there will be problems that happen. But I’m cautiously optimistic that the good will outweigh the bad and there will be some good results coming out of this,” he shared.
Alecia Allen, who operates a therapy clinic and grocery store in a lower-income area of West Virginia’s capital, observed that it feels as if she’s facing endless crises. With Medicaid reimbursements for therapy appointments delayed for nearly two weeks—a rare occurrence—Allen found it increasingly difficult to navigate the situation. Moreover, the uncertainty about federal grants, which assist her work to connect local farmers with fresh food initiatives, compounded her frustration, particularly with one vendor increasing her supply costs due to tariffs. “It is a huge step backwards, and it is unfortunate to have to digest every day,” she said, capturing the ongoing struggle many face in these trying times.
