Trump Orders VA Campus in L.A. to House 6,000 Homeless Veterans by 2028

President Donald Trump has directed the Department of Veterans Affairs to revamp its extensive West Los Angeles campus into a “National Center for Warrior Independence,” with plans to accommodate as many as 6,000 homeless veterans by the year 2028. 

This week, an executive order was signed mandating VA Secretary Doug Collins to present a plan within 120 days to expand housing, addiction treatment, and support services on a 388-acre site recognized as one of the most significant VA properties in the country.

The decision follows the VA's ongoing efforts to comply with a federal court order mandating an expansion of housing on the same campus. In a significant ruling in 2023, U.S. District Judge David Carter determined that the Department of Veterans Affairs had not met its obligations in providing adequate housing for disabled veterans. 

The judge mandated the construction of 1,800 permanent housing units and 750 temporary units to address this pressing issue. Legal appeals continue to progress through the judicial system.

Collins announced on Friday that the newly signed executive order aims to enhance the advancements already achieved, setting a course to address some of the most challenging issues faced by the VA. He emphasized that the new center will provide services to veterans nationwide.

The plan involves the collaboration of the VA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which will utilize housing vouchers to facilitate the placement of veterans into newly established units. 

The order's impact on ongoing litigation remains uncertain, as does its potential overlap with existing VA projects, which include 1,200 new units currently under development on the campus.

The land in West L.A., initially granted in 1888 to house Civil War veterans, has become controversial in recent years. Encampments such as "Veterans Row" have underscored the pressing demand for housing. 

Yet, critics argue that the VA has favored profitable leases, including agreements with oil companies and UCLA, at the expense of veterans' requirements.

According to data from 2023, Los Angeles County is home to nearly 3,000 homeless veterans.

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