The West Los Angeles VA Medical Center campus (Photo: VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System)

The Los Angeles Times reported that nearly a year after President Donald Trump signed an executive order to turn the West Los Angeles VA campus into the nation’s largest center for Homeless Veteran housing, the VA’s plan is facing growing criticism over how it is being carried out.

The latest congressional budget proposal does not request funding for new housing units, despite earlier goals of housing up to 6,000 Veterans on the 388-acre campus by the end of Trump’s term. Instead, the proposal focuses on infrastructure, including $500 million for renovating aging buildings, constructing a parking structure, and upgrading utilities—at the expense of over 300 Veterans who actively live on the property, and likely delaying future housing units.

Veteran advocates who initially supported the plan now say the lack of direct investment in housing is difficult to understand. Anthony Allman of Vets Advocacy, a group that monitors development at the site, told the LA Times the plan does not prioritize the well-being of Veterans.

The executive order, signed in May 2025, directed the VA to establish the National Center for Warrior Independence at the West Los Angeles campus. The goal was to provide housing, treatment, and support services for thousands of Homeless Veterans by 2028.

At the time, the announcement was seen as a major step toward addressing Veteran homelessness, which the VA has estimated affects more than 32,000 Veterans nationwide. The order also followed a federal court ruling that found parts of the campus had been improperly leased to private organizations instead of being used for Veterans. Those leases have since been terminated.

Now, the focus on renovations instead of housing has raised concerns that progress may be stalling. The proposal would also require relocating about 330 Veterans currently in treatment programs while buildings are being upgraded, without clear details on where they would go during that period.

The plan could delay urgently needed housing; however, the VA has claims the funding is intended to prepare the campus for future housing expansion. The department also indicated that a separate request is expected to establish between 500 and 1,000 housing units—far short of the promised 6,000 total—though details on timing and funding remain unclear.

Over the past year, the agency has sent mixed signals about its plans. Earlier statements suggested that hundreds of temporary housing units could be installed quickly, but no formal construction bids have been issued.

Lawmakers are expected to review the proposal as part of the federal budget process, where it will compete with other VA priorities. Some have already questioned why none of the requested funding is directed toward building housing, even in smaller phases.

For Veterans and advocates who saw the executive order as a turning point, the latest update has left uncertainty about how quickly the campus will begin providing the housing it was meant to deliver.

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.