Republican Gov. Patrick Morrisey has issued a slew of aggressive executive orders on his first day as West Virginia’s chief executive.

Summary

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey issued executive orders eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives in state-run institutions and introducing religious exemptions to school vaccination requirements.

Morrisey claimed DEI initiatives foster “preferential treatment” and referenced the 2023 Supreme Court decision ending affirmative action.

The vaccine exemption policy overturns one of the nation’s strictest vaccination rules, which had historically maintained high rates.

Public health experts warn the change could threaten immunity levels and worsen health outcomes in a state already struggling with poor health metrics.