RICHMOND, Va. — During a task force meeting on Monday, military families sounded off about recent controversial changes to a Virginia program providing free college education to families of fallen or disabled veterans.
The event took place at the Virginia War Memorial, the first meeting of the Preserving Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) Task Force.
It comes after the recently passed state budget made the program a last-dollar payer, meaning the financial waivers may only kick in after another aid is used to pay for school first. After signing the budget, Gov. Glenn Youngkin issued an executive directive to form a task force to preserve the program.
Erin Strasburger was one of many who spoke yesterday. A veteran herself, she was surrounded by fellow vets and gold star families.
"It is your job to do what you're supposed to do and serve the people of Virginia and restore VMSDEP in full,” Strasburger said.
Many of those who spoke at the meeting were angry and others left questioning.
"This is appalling and a tremendous breach of a covenant not to provide an entitlement to our most protected veterans, our gold stars and severely wounded warriors but something that was earned at the highest level," one attendee said.
"What lesson am I taking back to my eighth graders about government? Can you help me out with that," another attendee said.
Youngkin released a statement following the meeting on Tuesday saying "I look forward to the General Assembly returning by the end of the month to send me a bill that repeals and reverses the eligibility changes made to this important program."
"We heard from Virginians clearly, and we are working to repeal the changes this month while we allow the Task Force to continue its work and issue recommendations for the future of this program to be taken up in the 2025 General Assembly session.”
According to a report from WRIC 8News in Richmond, veterans and their families had strong words about the changes Monday afternoon.
“This is appalling and a tremendous breach of a covenant not to provide an entitlement to our most protected veteran our gold stars and severely wounded warriors but something that was earned at the highest level,” a veteran said, according to WRIC.
Last week, the backlash to the changes prompted Youngkin to call for reconvening the Virginia General Assembly to address the issue.
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