West LA VA Campus shuttle stop (Photo: VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System)
Edit: As of February 2026, the VA has terminated its leases with organizations like Brentwood School and UCLA.
A long overdue report from the VA reveals major shortcomings in the way land use agreements on the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center campus are being managed, according to recent filings with Congress. The report was first mandated by the West Los Angeles Leasing Act of 2016.
The VA’s report finds that several third-party leases on the West LA campus generate significantly less revenue than what the land could command on the open market. The combined market rental value of leases held by Brentwood School, UCLA, and the company operating the SafetyPark parking lots is estimated at roughly $48 million annually, while the actual revenue collected during the reporting year was only about $1.7 million.
Additionally, the VA says it cannot verify millions of dollars in “in-kind” benefits claimed by lessees, which are services or support allegedly provided for Veterans that the VA cannot substantiate. Brentwood School, for example, claimed in-kind benefits of around $1.84 million during the period in question, but the VA reported that it could not confirm whether those benefits were actually delivered or whether the valuation was accurate.
Under the West Los Angeles Leasing Act of 2016, leases on the campus must principally benefit Veterans and their families. The VA report states that some of the leases, particularly those with Brentwood School, UCLA, and SafetyPark, may fail to meet that standard because their primary purpose appears to serve non-Veteran entities rather than directly supporting Veterans.
This report arrives amid ongoing litigation in which a federal judge ordered the VA to accelerate development of housing for Veterans on the West LA campus. Advocacy groups argue that these findings reinforce the need for the VA to shift away from allowing high-value land to be leased for private use and to instead fulfill its original mission to serve Veterans. In its report, the VA indicated it is reviewing all existing lease agreements and is prepared to terminate those that are inconsistent with the Leasing Act or other federal laws.
Related Article: Trump Signs Executive Order to Transform West Los Angeles VA into National Veterans Housing Center
The disclosure comes as the VA works on a master plan for the campus that prioritizes housing and services for Veterans. The report details how lease revenue has been spent, including more than $4.3 million used during the reporting period for safety and infrastructure improvements at Veteran housing areas on campus.
The gap between market value and actual lease revenue suggests that the VA may not be capturing fair value for the land, potentially diverting resources away from Veteran housing projects. The inability to verify in-kind benefits also raises questions about whether Veterans are receiving the full value of these agreements as required by law. The potential noncompliance with the 2016 Leasing Act strengthens calls for legal and congressional oversight of how the West LA VA campus is managed.
The VA now faces increasing pressure to resolve these lease issues and accelerate the development of supportive housing for Veterans, ensuring that the West Los Angeles campus fulfills its original purpose to care for those who served.
Author: Rikki Almanza
Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted family connection to the military, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.