Veteran Advocates Frustrated as VA Budget Omits New Housing Funds for West LA Campus

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' latest budget proposal has sparked frustration among veteran advocates in Los Angeles, who say it fails to deliver on promised housing for veterans at the West Los Angeles VA campus. Despite an executive order issued by President Trump in May pledging housing for 6,000 veterans before the end of his term, the agency’s recent request to Congress does not include funding for any new beds on the site.

Instead, the VA is seeking $500 million for upgrades, including renovations to six older buildings, a new 800-space parking structure, and broader campus infrastructure improvements. An additional $212 million redirected from prior authorizations would go into three other projects, such as revitalizing the historic Wadsworth Chapel. However, no money has been proposed for new housing construction.

The proposal comes at a time when the VA campus must also relocate roughly 330 current residents in treatment programs while their housing is renovated, with no clear provision for where these veterans would go in the interim. Advocacy groups and community members say the plan risks displacing vulnerable individuals without expanding housing capacity. “We can create a plan that builds new facilities while not disrupting current treatment programs,” said Anthony Allman, executive director of Vets Advocacy.

Veteran community leaders had initially welcomed the executive order, hoping it would lead to progress on hundreds of units of temporary housing previously mandated by a court. That construction has stalled due to ongoing appeals and a lack of follow-through on funding requests. A VA notice in January floated the idea of installing 750 to 800 new temporary units this year, but no solicitation for bids or funding plan has been released, and advocates say their hopes have since faded.

The budget’s omission of new housing funds has drawn criticism from public officials and those involved in a pending federal lawsuit over the campus. Rep. Brad Sherman expressed surprise that the proposal lacked resources for any new housing, calling it a significant letdown. Some suggested that money allocated for the parking structure could be redirected, though congressional approval appears unlikely given current political dynamics.

As the VA’s plan undergoes congressional review, veteran advocates remain concerned about both the lack of transparency around future development and the immediate threat of displacement for current residents. The VA has not responded to requests for comment, and the outcome for West LA’s veteran housing remains uncertain.