Maryland Gov. Wes Moore announces 3 Cabinet departures

Courtney Bell and Konner Metz, The Baltimore Sun on Nov 6, 2026

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BALTIMORE — Three days after being reelected to a second term, Gov. Wes Moore announced three departures from his Cabinet.

Secretary of Public Safety and Correctional Services Carolyn Scruggs, Secretary of State Susan Lee, and Secretary of Veterans and Military Veterans Edward Rothstein are out, according to a news release from Moore’s office. All three departures are effective immediately.

The three Cabinet leaders “have devoted decades of faithful and exemplary service to the people of Maryland,” Moore said in a statement Friday. “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’ exit comes amid a turbulent time for the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Seven people died in Maryland correctional facilities between Dec. 13, 2025, and Jan. 27, 2026, a roughly six-week period.

It is unclear if Scruggs resigned or was asked to leave, a source with direct knowledge of the change told The Baltimore Sun on Thursday. On Friday, Moore’s office said Scruggs will “transition from her role” but did not provide details about the transition.

Scruggs made $237,000 in 2025, according to payroll data compiled by The Baltimore Sun. A spokesperson for DPSCS declined to comment on Scruggs’ exit Friday.

The first Black woman to hold the role, Scruggs was named secretary on Jan. 13, 2023. She previously worked in the department for 27 years, contributing to the implementation of the statewide fingerprint and case management systems, according to her biography.

Lee resigned from her post for “personal matters” after 24 years of service as a Cabinet member and state legislator, according to the statement. Deputy Secretary Michael Lore will serve as interim secretary starting Friday while a search for a permanent replacement is conducted.

Lee has been in the role since Feb. 13, 2023, and was responsible for state record-keeping and executive administration. Lee’s salary was $119,000 in 2025, according to The Sun’s payroll data report. Before that, she represented Montgomery County in the Maryland House of Delegates from 2002 to 2015 and the Maryland Senate from 2015 to 2023.

Lore, meanwhile, has served as the deputy secretary since January 2023. He was Lee’s chief of staff when she served in the state Senate.

Rothstein, a retired U.S. Army colonel, joined Moore’s administration in August 2025. He served 30 years in the Army and held senior intelligence roles at the Pentagon and National Security Agency, according to his biography. His salary was $193,000 in 2025, according to The Sun’s payroll data report.

James “Jimmy” Anderson, deputy secretary of the Department of Veterans and Military Families, was named as Rothstein’s acting replacement. Anderson was senior adviser for veterans and military engagement in The White House under former President Joe Biden, according to Moore’s release.

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