López to leave DHS amid ongoing controversy over program oversight and fiscal challenges

By: Danielle J. Brown

Outlets: Maryland Matters

Published: February 17, 2026

Words: 1,174

Last Updated: 2 weeks, 6 days ago

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Maryland Human Services Secretary Rafael López is resigning, leaving behind an agency racked in the past year by the death of a foster child in state care, unsafe placement of foster children, fiscal challenges and oversight failures identified in audits.

In a statement Monday from Gov. Wes Moore’s (D) office, López said he is resigning effective Monday, Feb. 23, for “health-related reasons.” DHS Deputy Secretary Gloria Brown Burnett will serve as interim secretary until …

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