I never thought I’d see the day when women who once faced enemy fire would have to fight for a seat at the table in Lansing. Yet, that’s exactly what happened this week, as Michigan’s women veterans—many of whom have given decades of service—rallied not for medals or parades, but simply for the resources to survive. I stood among them, witnessing strength mixed with bitter frustration. And while stories of sacrifice filled the air, so did an unmistakable sense of betrayal. Let’s be honest: if you dig beneath the surface, what happened on those Capitol steps wasn’t just a budget issue. It was a moral failure, exposing what lawmakers and the Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency truly value—and what, apparently, they don’t.
Promises Deferred: The Immediate Fallout from Women Veterans Funding Cuts
As I reflect on the recent events at the Michigan State Capitol, the reality for women veterans in our state has become painfully clear: the 2025-26 budget cuts have left a deep and immediate impact. The abrupt loss of crucial services, especially those targeting combat veteran homelessness and essential support programs, has sent shockwaves through the community. The voices raised in Lansing this week were not just calls for help—they were urgent reminders of promises deferred and the very real consequences of budgetary decisions.
Essential Services Vanish Overnight
For many women veterans, the new state budget represents more than just numbers on a page. The removal of grant funding for programs fighting combat veteran homelessness, alongside cuts to the Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency’s (MVAA) administrative funding and the Michigan Veterans Coalition Service Officer Program, has left a gaping hole in the safety net that so many depend on. These services are not luxuries—they are lifelines.
- Combat veteran homelessness grants—previously a critical resource for women at risk—have been slashed, leaving many facing uncertainty about where to turn for help.
- The Michigan Veterans Coalition Service Officer Program, which connects veterans to benefits and support, is now severely limited in its capacity to serve those in need.
- MVAA administrative cuts further restrict outreach, making it even harder for women veterans to access information and assistance.
These cuts are not abstract. They translate directly into fewer options, longer waits, and more barriers for women who have already sacrificed so much in service to our country.
Personal Stories: The Human Cost of Budget Cuts
The rally in Lansing brought together women veterans who shared firsthand accounts of how these funding decisions are affecting their lives. Lorrena Black, a retired U.S. Army Major and founder of She Served, LLC, spoke with conviction about the sense of betrayal felt by many. She reminded lawmakers that veterans have “already given too much,” and urged them to find savings elsewhere rather than targeting those who have served.
“Cut money from somewhere else. Don’t take it from veterans. We’ve already given too much.” — Lorrena Black, U.S. Army Major (Ret.), Founder and CEO, She Served, LLC
The pain of these cuts was compounded by the sudden cancellation of the 4th Annual Women Veterans Conference, an event that had become a cornerstone for community, support, and resource sharing. Many attendees only learned of the cancellation days before it was scheduled to occur, with officials citing budget restraints as the reason. For women veterans, this conference was more than just a gathering—it was a lifeline.
The Conference: More Than an Event
Joan Wallace, U.S. Army veteran and founder of SHero’s Corner in Grand Rapids, described the conference as a place where homeless female veterans could escape isolation, connect with others, and discover benefits they might not have known existed. The loss of this event means the loss of critical opportunities for healing and empowerment.
“Most of us would not be alive today without things like this. It’s what keeps our community alive and safe.” — Albi Brunzell, U.S. Navy veteran
For many, the conference represented the only time they felt truly seen and supported. Its abrupt removal felt like a “slap in the face,” as Brunzell put it, highlighting the emotional and practical fallout of these decisions.
Silence from Leadership, Growing Frustration
Despite the public outcry and the clear articulation of need, attempts by News Channel 3 to get answers from state legislators were met with silence. This lack of response has only deepened the frustration and sense of abandonment among women veterans. The absence of leadership engagement leaves critical questions unanswered and perpetuates the uncertainty facing those most affected by the cuts.
- No official explanation for the cancellation of the Women Veterans Conference.
- No direct responses regarding the rationale behind the removal of key funding lines.
- Continued calls from women veterans for restoration of services and recognition of their unique needs.
As the immediate fallout from these funding cuts becomes more apparent, the stories and struggles of Michigan’s women veterans stand as a stark reminder of the promises made—and now deferred—by our state’s leadership.
Condemning the MVAA: Dereliction of Duty, Mixed Priorities, and a Community Betrayed
As I reflect on the recent developments surrounding Michigan’s 2025-26 state budget, I am compelled to sharply condemn the Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency (MVAA) for what can only be described as a dereliction of duty. The agency’s actions—and inactions—have left women veterans feeling abandoned, their needs sidelined in favor of superficial priorities and public relations gestures. The outcry at the State Capitol, as reported by News Channel 3, was not just about numbers on a spreadsheet; it was about broken promises and a community betrayed.
MVAA’s Mixed Priorities: Style Over Substance
It is deeply troubling to see the MVAA allocate resources to visible, surface-level projects—such as new vans and advertising campaigns—while essential programs for women veterans are slashed or eliminated. The optics of shiny vehicles and polished promotional materials may look good in annual reports, but they do little to address the urgent, day-to-day realities faced by Michigan’s women veterans. When the core mission of supporting those who have served is sacrificed for the sake of appearances, the agency’s priorities come into question.
- New vans and ad campaigns receive funding, while homelessness prevention and community-building events for women veterans are left unfunded.
- The Michigan Veterans Coalition Service Officer Program, a lifeline for many, faces cuts even as the need for direct support grows.
- Administrative funding for the MVAA itself is reduced, raising concerns about the agency’s ability to fulfill its core responsibilities.
This is not just a matter of budgetary reallocation; it is a fundamental misalignment with the agency’s stated mission. The MVAA’s stewardship of taxpayer dollars should reflect the real, pressing needs of veterans—not the desire to project an image of progress.
Selective Recognition: Awards for Some, Silence for Others
Another point of frustration is the agency’s selective approach to recognition and support. While the MVAA finds time and resources to honor Vietnam veterans—whose sacrifices are, of course, worthy of respect—it remains conspicuously silent when it comes to the struggles of women veterans whose service and trauma are much more recent. The contrast is stark and painful.
- Vietnam veterans receive public ceremonies and awards, often with significant media attention.
- Women veterans, many of whom have returned from conflict zones in the last decade, are met with budget cuts and cancelled events.
- The sudden cancellation of the 4th Annual Women Veterans Conference, with minimal notice, is a glaring example of this disregard.
As Lorrena Black, retired U.S. Army Major and founder of She Served, LLC, stated at the rally, “Veterans have already given too much.” The silence from the MVAA and state legislators in response to these recent cuts only deepens the sense of injustice. It sends a clear message: some veterans are more valued than others.
A Moral Failure: Betrayal of Trust and Justice
At its core, the MVAA’s selective stewardship of funds is not just a bureaucratic misstep—it is a moral failure. The agency was created to advocate for all veterans, not just those who fit a particular narrative or whose recognition serves a public relations purpose. By prioritizing image over impact, the MVAA has betrayed the trust placed in it by Michigan’s veteran community.
“Most of us would not be alive today without things like this,” said Albi Brunzell, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, referring to the now-cancelled conference. “It’s a slap in the face.”
The emotional and practical consequences of these decisions are real. Women veterans are left without critical support, isolated from their peers, and denied access to resources that could change—and even save—their lives. The agency’s actions have not only failed to honor their service; they have actively undermined their well-being.
In the absence of accountability or even a response from state leadership, the sense of betrayal grows. The MVAA’s choices reflect a troubling willingness to sacrifice the needs of the most vulnerable for the sake of optics and convenience. This is not just poor governance—it is a profound injustice.
Broken Community: The Ripple Effect of Conference Cancellation and Lost Support Systems
As I reflect on the recent events surrounding Michigan’s new state budget, the abrupt cancellation of the 4th Annual Women Veterans Conference stands out as a devastating blow to a community already reeling from funding cuts. For many, this conference was far more than a date on the calendar—it was a lifeline. The loss of this event, paired with the slashing of essential services, has left women veterans across Michigan feeling isolated, unsupported, and, above all, betrayed by the very institutions meant to serve them.
The conference, typically hosted by the Michigan Veteran Affairs Agency (MVAA), was a cornerstone for women veterans seeking connection, information, and hope. Its cancellation was announced with little warning, citing budgetary restraints tied to the fiscal year 2025-26 cuts. The timing could not have been worse. For women veterans, many of whom already face unique challenges in accessing resources, the conference was a rare opportunity to gather, share experiences, and learn about benefits and services that are often difficult to navigate alone.
Community leaders like Lorrena Black, a retired U.S. Army Major and founder of She Served, LLC, have been vocal about the consequences of these decisions. Black’s words at the recent State Capitol rally echoed the frustration and pain felt by many: veterans have already “given too much,” and to cut funding from their support systems is, in her words, “unacceptable.” The conference, she and others argued, was not just an event—it was a critical support structure, especially for those at risk of homelessness or struggling with mental health.
The stories shared by women veterans at the rally were both heartbreaking and illuminating. Joan Wallace, founder of SHero’s Corner in Grand Rapids, described how the conference helped homeless female veterans break free from isolation, connect with peers, and discover life-changing resources. For some, these gatherings were the only place they felt seen and understood. Albi Brunzell, a retired U.S. Navy veteran, put it bluntly: “most of us would not be alive today without things like this.” Her words cut to the core of what is at stake—not just camaraderie, but survival.
Organizations like She Served, LLC and SHero’s Corner have stepped up in the wake of these cuts, striving to fill the void left by the loss of state-funded programs and the conference. Their efforts are commendable, but the gap is wide and growing. Grassroots organizations can only do so much with limited resources. The cancellation of the conference and the reduction in funding for programs like the Michigan Veterans Coalition Service Officer Program and MVAA’s administrative line have left many women veterans without the safety net they so desperately need.
The ripple effect of these decisions is profound. When a key event like the Women Veterans Conference disappears, so too does a vital channel for resource sharing, mental health support, and community building. For women veterans, who often face unique barriers to care and recognition, these losses are felt acutely. The sense of betrayal is palpable—not only because promises were broken, but because the silence from lawmakers has left their concerns unaddressed. News Channel 3’s attempts to seek answers from state officials were met with silence, further deepening the wounds of those impacted.
In the end, the cancellation of the 4th Annual Women Veterans Conference and the broader budget cuts represent more than just numbers on a spreadsheet. They are a stark reminder of the fragility of support systems for marginalized communities. The stories shared by Michigan’s women veterans make it clear: these events and services are not luxuries, but necessities. They are what keep hope alive in the face of adversity. As the state moves forward, it is imperative that the voices of women veterans are not only heard but acted upon, and that the support systems they rely on are restored and strengthened. Until then, the community remains broken, and the ripple effects of these decisions will continue to be felt in the lives of those who have already sacrificed so much.
TL;DR: Michigan’s funding cuts have hit female veterans hardest, eliminating vital events and support services. Community voices call for accountability and demand the restoration of programs women veterans depend on. The MVAA’s priorities are under a harsh spotlight.