Virginia made a solemn pledge to military families: if a service member from the Commonwealth dies while serving or becomes severely disabled, their children and spouse would receive the promise of affordable education. However, in a surprising turn of events, Virginia has broken that promise, marking it as the largest rollback of veterans benefits in the state’s history. Overnight, Virginia has transformed from being one of the top states for supporting Gold Star and disabled veteran families to one of the worst.

The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) was a lifeline for military families, offering eight semesters of education for spouses and dependents of Gold Star families and 90% to 100% disabled veterans, as recognized by the VA. It was a critical incentive for military families to settle in Virginia, a state that highlighted the program as a key tool to attract veterans to reside permanently just months ago. Yet, with stunning abruptness, the Virginia General Assembly deemed the program too costly and gutted it, a decision signed into law by Governor Glenn Youngkin.

For families who uprooted their lives based on Virginia’s promise of free college tuition and stability, it feels like a bait-and-switch. Now, with uncertainty looming over how their children’s education will be financed, despite assurances from Youngkin to reconsider, the future remains unclear. This situation isn’t just about Virginia—it sets a potential precedent for the treatment of veterans’ benefits nationwide, sending a warning signal to all military families to remain vigilant.