Social Services Chief ‘No Longer Employed’ With DoHS

There’s been another change among top leadership at the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS). 

A spokesperson confirms that Lorie Bragg is no longer employed with the department. Bragg was tapped to be the commissioner of the Bureau for Social Services just over a year ago, in May of 2025, and had served in that role on an interim basis for several months.  

“We can confirm that Ms. Bragg is no longer an employee of the Department of Human Services,” said a department spokesperson in an email on Thursday. “This is a personnel matter, therefore, we cannot provide further information or comment.” 

Bragg is a defendant in a lawsuit filed in Marion County, a clerk confirmed Thursday. The complaint was filed under seal, but the Times West Virginia reported a controversy following a contentious circuit court hearing in February in which a child protective services worker said Bragg gave inaccurate testimony and then retaliated when the worker sent an email about the testimony. 

The Bureau for Social Services oversees child and adult protective services, foster care and adoptions in West Virginia.  

 A DoHS press release when Bragg was tapped as commissioner said she brought more than 20 years of experience in child welfare and social services, and previously served as a case aide for Child Protective Services and as deputy commissioner for the bureau. She helped establish the bureau’s placement division, which finds places to stay for youth in West Virginia’s foster care system, according to the press release. 

Bragg is the second higher up to leave DoHS abruptly this year. Secretary Alex Mayer resigned from his position in March, after slightly more than one year on the job. His replacement, Carl Ayres, began work one month ago, on July 20.