Noticias

Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation Thursday that splits the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs into two distinct cabinet departments, one for military affairs and the other for veterans affairs.

Issues concerning veterans, like housing, health care, mental health services, and benefits for veterans and their families, will be moved to the newly created Department of Veterans Affairs. The newly renamed Department of Military Affairs will continue to control military matters like the National Guard.

In the release, Murphy announced his intention to nominate Vincent Solomeno, the current deputy commissioner of veterans affairs, to lead the new Department of Veterans Affairs.

“Veterans have selflessly fought for our hard-earned freedoms as Americans,” Murphy said in the release. “By establishing a department solely dedicated to the needs of Veterans, we will continue to ensure they have a seat at the table and direct access to the support and resources they deserve. Our Veterans and their families deserve nothing less.”

Both statehouse chambers approved the legislation to split the department in bipartisan fashion on June 30th. The law takes effect 120 days after enactment, or Jan. 9, 2026.

“This realignment is a deliberate step toward strengthening operational efficiency, enhancing service delivery, and ensuring focused leadership in support of our Veterans and military communities,” said Brigadier General Yvonne Mays, the adjutant general of New Jersey and Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. “It underscores our unwavering commitment to provide each community with the dedicated resources, advocacy, and attention they deserve.”

Solomeno currently works as the administrator of veterans affairs for the New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. He is a U.S. Army veteran and chairs the governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide Among Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families. Solomeno ran for state Senate in the 13th legislative district as a Democrat in 2021 and lost to state Sen. Declan O’Scanlon (R-Little Silver).

“Vincent Solomeno has dedicated his career to serving our veterans and their families,” Murphy said. “His years of leadership and experience will help support our service members effectively. I am confident he will excel as the inaugural Commissioner of the Department of Veterans Affairs.”

“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, the State of New Jersey continues to invest more, do more, and achieve more for Garden State veterans than at any time in our history,” Solomeno said. “I am privileged to work beside teams of dedicated public servants. We are committed to building a robust cabinet-level Department of Veterans Affairs worthy of those that we serve.”

The prime sponsors of the bill are state Sens. Joseph Vitale (D-Woodbridge) and Joseph Cryan (D-Union Twp), and Assemblymembers Cleopatra Tucker (D-Newark), Robert Karabinchak (D-Edison), and Annette Quijano (D-Elizabeth).

“This bill is about building a better, more responsive system for veterans in New Jersey—one that puts their needs first, strengthens accountability, and ensures that no one who served our country is left to struggle,” said Tucker, the chair of the Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “By creating a standalone Department of Veterans Affairs, we’re making the kind of structural changes that will improve outcomes, restore trust, and honor the service of our veterans.”

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