Maryland Human Services Secretary Rafael López to step down Feb. 23; interim and acting leaders named
Planned leadership change at a key Maryland agency
Gov. Wes Moore announced a leadership transition at the Maryland Department of Human Services, with Secretary Rafael López scheduled to leave the post effective Feb. 23, 2026. The department oversees major safety-net and family-support programs, including child welfare services and public benefits operations that touch hundreds of thousands of Maryland residents.
López said he is resigning for health-related reasons. Moore’s office framed the change as an orderly handoff intended to maintain continuity of operations while the administration searches for a permanent cabinet secretary.
Interim plan: deputy to lead, then an acting secretary
The transition plan announced Monday sets out two stages of temporary leadership:
- Deputy Secretary Gloria Brown Burnett will serve as interim secretary from Feb. 23 until April 1, 2026.
- Beginning April 1, former Baltimore County Administrative Officer Stacy L. Rodgers will become acting secretary and will serve until the cabinet post is filled through an ongoing search process.
The structure is designed to keep day-to-day management in place immediately after López’s departure, then shift to a leader with extensive operational experience across local, state, and federal government.
Measures highlighted during López’s tenure
The governor’s announcement cited several performance and program milestones during López’s time leading the department. Among them, the administration said foster care placements with relatives increased by 30% as the department expanded data sharing and family engagement practices. The administration also said the state reduced its Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payment error rate from nearly 36% in 2023 to 13.64%.
The announcement also pointed to expanded summer nutrition benefits through Maryland SUN Bucks, describing more than $75.5 million in federal summer nutrition benefits delivered to more than 630,000 students in summer 2025, and more than $71 million in summer 2024. In addition, the administration highlighted implementation of the Maryland One Benefits Application, described as a system intended to provide more efficient and secure access to benefits such as SNAP and Medicaid.
Who is Stacy L. Rodgers?
Rodgers, set to become acting secretary on April 1, has worked for more than three decades across government and nonprofit roles. In Baltimore County, she served as administrative officer overseeing day-to-day operations and helped implement the county’s COVID-19 response. She previously led the Baltimore City Department of Social Services, the state’s largest local social services department, serving more than 245,000 individuals and families annually.
Rodgers also held leadership roles at the Social Security Administration during the Obama administration, including senior advisor to the deputy commissioner and chief of staff, and previously worked at the District of Columbia Child and Family Services Agency. Her academic background includes degrees from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the University of Baltimore, along with an executive leadership fellowship certificate from Harvard Kennedy School.
The governor’s office said the leadership changes are intended to sustain progress while a search continues for a permanent secretary.