Trump to Launch National Center for Homeless Veterans
On Friday, President Trump revealed plans to create the National Center for Independence of the Warriors at the West Los Angeles Veterans Bureau of Human Services. This center aims to provide essential support and housing services to homeless veterans. Funds that were meant for other services for undocumented immigrants will now be redirected to assist veterans.
“In my first term, I introduced legislation to improve accountability for veterans accessing care and to broaden their choices. My second term will build on these foundations,” Trump stated during the announcement. “The West Los Angeles VA campus will serve as a National Warrior Independence Center, equipped with various facilities to help veterans regain their independence.”
As of 2024, approximately 3,000 homeless veterans were reported in the Los Angeles area, marking it as the largest population of homeless veterans in the United States, according to the White House. This figure accounts for about 10% of all homeless veterans nationwide.
The president’s order emphasized the importance of veterans, stating:
Our nation’s security, prosperity, and freedom depend on our veterans. Many made the ultimate sacrifice, while others suffer from both visible and invisible wounds from their service. Unfortunately, some veterans are homeless, and every one of them deserves our gratitude.
However, the federal government hasn’t always treated veterans with the respect they deserve. Previously, bureaucratic mishandling has left many veterans without the support they need, betraying taxpayer expectations for better care.
The history of the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center illustrates this failure. Over a century ago, land was donated by Senators John Percival Jones and Arcadia Bandini de Stearns Baker to house disabled veterans, but the federal government has allowed its conditions to deteriorate significantly over the years.
In response, President Trump directed his veterans secretary to:
(a) Establish the National Warrior Independence Center at the West Los Angeles VA campus, where homeless veterans from the LA area and beyond can receive necessary care and services.
(b) Collaborate with various municipalities and VA facilities to ensure access for homeless veterans outside the LA area who wish to use the National Center.
(c) Coordinate with the Secretaries of Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and other relevant agencies to reallocate any funds originally designated for undocumented immigrants toward the establishment and maintenance of this center.
(d) Focus on restoring the self-sufficiency and spirit of homeless veterans by providing the guidance and services they need to find housing, receive treatment for addiction, and re-engage with their communities.
(e) Present an action plan to the President through his domestic policy assistant within 120 days, with a goal of accommodating up to 6,000 homeless veterans at the center by January 1, 2028.
The president also instructed the housing and urban development secretaries to initiate a voucher program aimed at supporting homeless veterans throughout Los Angeles and across the nation.
The order further stipulates:
(a) A report must be submitted to the President within 60 days, detailing plans to reduce wait times for veterans seeking health care, including options like extending hours and increasing virtual health services.
(b) An analysis of feasibility at the Manchester VA Medical Center should be conducted within 30 days of this order, along with plans for service expansion to be presented to the President within 180 days.
(c) Engage with the Secretary of Defense and other officials to develop strategies aimed at enhancing the delivery and quality of healthcare services for veterans, with an emphasis on reducing wait times and improving overall service delivery.
President Trump signed this executive order on May 9, 2025.
