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ANNAPOLIS, MD - Governor Wes Moore this afternoon hosted a roundtable with Carroll County veterans to discuss the administration’s efforts to improve quality of life for veterans and military families in Maryland. The roundtable was convened in partnership with the Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families to mark a new chapter of leadership for the department under Acting Secretary Ed Rothstein’s leadership.
“I want to say to Carroll County, and to all our veterans: we’ve still got your back,” said Gov. Moore. “We are here to talk to veterans about our work to uplift Marylanders who serve, even if the federal government won’t. And as we work to deliver results for our veterans, we are proud to have Ed Rothstein at the helm of the Department of Veterans and Military Families to ensure that Maryland continues to step up.”
“Our veterans and military families are not just the backbone of our national strength-they are the heartbeat of our shared values,” said Maryland Department of Veterans and Military Families Acting Secretary Ed Rothstein. “This is not just about a department, it is about a community. I am here to listen, to learn, and then lead together to continue making Maryland the place to be for our veterans and military families.”
Governor Moore and Acting Secretary Rothstein joined local veterans at the Westminster Senior and Community Center. Veterans shared stories about their experience transitioning from active duty to finding their next mission in Maryland and discussed the impact of the state’s work to support servicemembers, veterans and their families.
Under the Moore-Miller Administration, Maryland expanded economic opportunities for veterans by successfully advancing approximately $184 million in procurement awards to certified veteran-owned small businesses. The administration also increased the military retirement income tax exemption for veterans through the Keep our Heroes Home Act-part of the governor’s first legislative agenda after taking office. To support the spouses of Maryland’s servicemembers and veterans, the governor in 2024 signed the Families Serve Act, which incentivizes both businesses and state governments to provide hiring preferences for military spouses.
Maryland’s work to support servicemembers, veterans and military families continues despite unprecedented cuts to federal programs that many rely on, including benefits administered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and crucial programs like Medicaid and SNAP.
In Maryland, 23,100 veterans rely on Medicaid for health care coverage-the federal budget bill signed this month by the Trump Administration makes extensive cuts, jeopardizing coverage for 175,000 Marylanders on Medicaid. Additionally, more than 684,000 Marylanders-including 21,000 veterans-could lose access to vital food assistance programs due to federal SNAP cuts.