Target 7: Veterans across Virginia fighting VMSDEP cuts

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - Recent changes made to a decades-old education program for Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents has caused controversy since it was announced in May.

The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) waived tuition and mandatory fees for qualified survivors and dependents if the military service member was killed, missing in action, a prisoner of war, or has 90 percent or more service-related disability. Significant program cuts, however, means a lack of coverage for many families who were relying on it.

“He’s a rising senior, and now his father and I don’t know where this money is gonna come from,” said Salem resident Katrina Frye, who is a 100-percent disabled veteran.

Frye told WDBJ7 VMSDEP would have covered college tuition and mandatory fees for her son, until the recent changes announced in May.

“This totally disrupted his plans,” she explained. “It changes where we look to go to school. It changes everything about his college and he was excited about it and now what?”

State leaders held a VMSDEP task force meeting Monday to discuss the issue. Frye along with dozens of others impacted by the program changes went to express their concerns.

We requested an interview with Governor Glenn Youngkin on the issue; his staff told us he was not available due to his schedule, and referred us to this statement:

“I’d like to thank the Task Force for convening yesterday and bringing together Gold Star families and our Veteran community to discuss important concerns surrounding the recent VMSDEP changes,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin. “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.”

House leaders introduced legislation Thursday to address the issue, and the General Assembly is coming back Tuesday to assess repealing those changes.