Lee, Scruggs, Rothstein depart Moore’s Cabinet

More changes are coming to Gov. Wes Moore’s Cabinet as the administration prepares to enter a second term in January.

Moore, a Democrat, announced the departures Friday, a day after announcing a new chief of staff and three days after winning election to a second term. Such staff changes are not unusual for two-term governors.

The list of changes announced Friday include Secretary of State Susan Lee, as well as Public Safety and Correctional Services Secretary Carolyn Scruggs and Veterans and Military Affairs Secretary Ed Rothstein. In all three cases, interim leaders took over immediately.

“Secretary Susan Lee, Secretary Carolyn Scruggs, and Secretary Ed Rothstein have devoted decades of faithful and exemplary service to the people of Maryland,” Moore said in a statement announcing the moves. “Our state has greatly benefited from their leadership, expertise, and service in the Cabinet, and I thank them for raising their hands to serve and leading these critical departments during these historically challenging times.”

Scruggs, appointed in January 2023, at the outset of the Moore administration, was the first Black woman to lead the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Her departure follows ongoing criticism about staffing issues within the state prison system as well as 22 deaths classified as homicides between 2024 and 2025.

Scruggs’ departure was first reported Thursday by The Baltimore Banner. Union officials who have regularly sparred with Scruggs during her tenure said a change at the department “was long overdue.”

“We’re pleased to see the department moving in a different direction — as all facets of the agency (Parole and Probation, Home Detention Unit, Pretrial Detention, and the entirety of the Division of Corrections) need a change in leadership and a massive influx of resources,” said a statement from Jack Hughes, president of Maryland Council 3 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

“As has been documented at legislative hearings in the General Assembly and in our joint staffing analyses, DPSCS has nowhere near the number of staff and resources that are needed to fulfill its mission,” his statement said. “AFSCME looks forward to working with new department leadership to make our communities safer, protect those in the state’s care, and ensure that AFSCME members get home from work safely.”

Deputy Secretary of Operations David C. Greene, who has more than  20 years of service with DPSCS, took over as interim secretary Friday. He will remain in the position until a permanent replacement is named.

Lee, 72, was appointed by Moore soon after he was sworn in. Lee had been a state legislator from Montgomery County, serving in the House of Delegates from 2002 to 2015, when she moved to the Senate. She remained in the Senate until January 2023.

Two years ago, Lee took a leave of absence to “focus on a personal health matter.” A statement issued Friday by Moore’s office said Lee was departing “for personal matters.”

Moore named Deputy Secretary of State Michael Lore, an attorney, to serve until a permanent replacement is named.

Lore served as chief of staff to Lee when she was in the Senate. He also worked for Sen. Norman Stone (D-Baltimore County) and as a speech writer and researcher for Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-8th).

Fresh off reelection win, Moore names new chief of staff

Rothstein leaves the Moore administration after 15 months leading the veterans agency.

The Republican gave up his seat as a county commissioner in Carroll County to join the Moore administration. Prior to that, Rothstein served in the military for more than three decades, including a stint as an intelligence officer and garrison commander at Fort Meade.

Deputy Secretary James “Jimmy” Anderson will take over as acting Secretary of Veterans and Military Families effective Nov. 6, according to a statement from Moore’s office.

The moves come a day after Moore announced changes in his own office.

Lester Davis departed his role as Moore’s chief of staff, after just over a year on the job to become the interim CEO of the Maryland Technology Development Corp.

Succeeding Davis is Emmanuel “Manny” Welsh, who previously served as principal deputy chief of staff.

Both Davis and Welsh assumed their new roles on the day they were announced.