They say changes to a Virginia veterans families program 'felt like a betrayal'

RICHMOND, Va. -- Advocates for a state program that helped veterans' families be able to afford college are crying foul after changes to it were made in the state budget approved earlier this week.

"We are concerned about this," said Stuart McFaden. "Very much so."

McFaden and Kayla Owen say the latest development surrounding the Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) will impact their veteran families.

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"Bottom line, it raises the cost for some families exponentially," Owen said. She is the co-founder of Friends of the VMSDEP.

The VMSDEP gives tuition waivers for Virginia public colleges to children and spouses of veterans who, are among other things, killed in action or 90-percent disabled or higher and it covered undergraduate and graduate degrees.

"Very much felt like a betrayal seeing the language appear in the budge on Saturday when it was released," Owen said.

But that changed Monday -- when state lawmakers and Governor Glenn Youngkin agreed on a two-year budget -- with language changing how the program operates.

This includes moving oversight to the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia or SCHEV; requiring other local, state, and federal funding options be used first; and only covering undergraduate degrees.

"In addition to specifically enumerate that there is an expected family contribution prior to putting in a single dollar is very alarming," Owen said.

The language included a grandfather clause -- but had an effective date of Wednesday -- two days after the budget was passed.

Owen, the wife of a disabled veteran who planned, co-founded a group called Friends of VMSDEP to oppose the changes and says she no longer qualifies -- while McFaden is a disabled vet himself and is unsure if his high school senior is grandfathered in.

Meanwhile Wednesday night, Youngkin signed an Executive Directive calling for SCHEV to lead a stakeholder task force to review the program -- to ensure its long-term viability and mitigate disruption to military families.

He cited ballooning costs -- saying waivers have increased 341% in five years and is expected to cost $180-million by 2025 -- for 18-thousand students.

These echo concerns raised by SCHEV, Virginia universities, and lawmakers who expanded the program in 2019.

"Our idea was to make sure that undergrad opportunities are made for all Virginians in his veterans families who have served," said Senator Jeremy McPike, (D-Prince William.) "However, that program has grown and paying for med schools and paying for doctoral programs, many other things beyond the original scope of intent."

However, advocates say it's being done in the wrong order.

"Let's move it to a study. Let's figure out exactly what we need to make this program successful and sustainable moving forward," Owen said.

"This is a earned benefit for their service to the nation, and the injuries they suffered through their service to our nation," Virgnia Delegate Mike Cherry said.

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A sentiment shared by Delegate Mike Cherry who was among several lawmakers to speak against the change Monday -- and says he and others are working on legislation the would the restore the original program language -- and study possible changes for next year.

"And fix it the right way not kind of haphazardly the way it was done through the budgeting process," said Cherry.

Cherry says this plan is if lawmakers return for a continuation of Monday's special session to address skill games -- they would have this legislation ready to go and take it up then.

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