
In a bold move to address veteran homelessness, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to transform the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Campus into the National Center for Warrior Independence, the largest of its kind in the country.
The initiative aims to significantly expand services for homeless veterans by offering housing, healthcare, substance abuse treatment, and workforce reintegration support.
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Inside the National Center for Warrior Independence
This development comes as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) reported nearly 33,000 veterans experiencing homelessness across the U.S. in early 2024.
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While that number reflects a 55.6% drop since 2010, the issue remains urgent.
The new center is expected to house up to 6,000 veterans by 2028, making it a cornerstone of Trump’s plan to prioritize American veterans in federal care efforts.
The executive order directs the VA Secretary to reimagine the Los Angeles campus as a place of recovery and renewal.
It instructs the department to reallocate funds, previously spent on housing and services for undocumented immigrants, toward the construction and operation of the center.
According to a White House statement, this funding shift underscores the administration’s position that veterans should be first in line for government assistance.
The order also mandates a thorough review of internal accountability at the VA.
It pushes for disciplinary action against staff involved in past misconduct and questions decisions made under the previous administration, such as the rehiring of individuals who were once dismissed for inappropriate behavior.
Currently, the VA is embroiled in a legal battle over the use of its West L.A. property, which has been leased to non-veteran tenants like a private school and UCLA’s baseball team.
A judge ruled in 2024 that such leases were illegal, and the executive order reinforces the goal of reclaiming the space exclusively for veteran use.
VA officials say the campus will now become a hub of healing and opportunity, where homeless veterans from across the nation can access the help they need.
VA Secretary Doug Collins praised the directive, calling it a major step in resolving long-standing issues within the department.
Meanwhile, the VA has 120 days to present a detailed action plan to the White House, marking the beginning of a massive transformation aimed at restoring dignity and stability to thousands of American heroes.
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