Trump's Promise to House 6,000 Homeless Veterans on LA Campus Faces Budget and Transparency Hurdles

A year after President Trump signed an executive order promising to house 6,000 homeless veterans at a new National Center for Warrior Independence on the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs campus, the administration's proposed budget includes zero dollars for new housing construction. The pledge, which delighted veterans groups, has been mired in delays, lawsuits, and bipartisan criticism over lack of transparency and funding.

Vincent Tourville, an Iraq War veteran who now lives on the campus with his 2-year-old son, credits the VA with saving his life. After struggling with PTSD and homelessness, he moved from sleeping on the beach to a safe parking program, then to a bed, and finally to an apartment.

However, he says the building is infested with cockroaches, and open drug use and prostitution are common.

The Trump administration terminated long-held leases on the campus that were not related to veterans, raising hopes for new housing. But in February, the administration appealed a court ruling mandating more housing, contradicting its own stated intentions.

The proposed budget released in April allocated no funds for the promised 6,000 beds.

At a House Veterans Affairs Committee hearing this month, lawmakers from both parties expressed frustration. Rep.

Mark Takano (D-CA) warned that concentrating veterans without adequate support services could turn the campus into a "West Side skid row." Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) demanded transparency, noting that the administration had not provided the plan for the National Center for Warrior Independence until the night before the hearing, eight months after it was due.

VA officials cited ongoing litigation as a reason for delays and said they would provide monthly updates. However, they did not explain why the budget requested zero funding for new beds.

VA Press Secretary Quinn Slaven stated that the department is working to implement the executive order and will release requests for proposals for additional housing.

Anthony Allman of Vets Advocacy expressed skepticism, noting that $98 million in the budget is allocated to renovate a building the VA said it had funds for in 2019. He questioned where the money went and said the VA is not designed to be a community developer.

The VA did not respond to queries about the missing funds.