Trump Signs Executive Order to Launch National Center for Veteran Housing Using Same Funds From Housing Undocumented

A major win for homeless veterans—and a shift in federal funding priorities.

In a landmark move aimed at tackling veteran homelessness, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to establish the National Center for Warrior Independence. The facility will rise on the Veterans Affairs campus in West Los Angeles and is expected to house up to 6,000 veterans by 2028.

Here’s what makes this different: the center will be built using funds previously allocated to housing and services for undocumented immigrants. It’s a bold pivot, redirecting taxpayer dollars to prioritize those who served in uniform. Trump, speaking at the signing, called it “a promise kept to America’s forgotten heroes.”

What Will the Center Do?

The new center isn’t just about housing—it’s a comprehensive launchpad for veterans to regain their independence. Services will include:

• Long-term housing and medical care

• Substance abuse treatment and mental health support

• Job training, employment programs, and legal assistance

It’s a full-service recovery path designed for those who often fall through the cracks after service.

Why West L.A.?

The West Los Angeles VA campus has a long, complicated history. Originally set aside to serve veterans, it has in recent decades been leased out to private interests—leaving thousands of L.A.’s veterans homeless just blocks away. This new order restores the land to its original mission: serving veterans first.

The executive order also includes measures to clean house at the VA: holding officials accountable for past misconduct and pushing for shorter wait times by expanding office hours and telehealth access.

Critics may argue the reallocation of funding is politically charged. But supporters call it a clear moral statement: if anyone deserves priority housing and care, it’s those who wore the uniform.

Veterans sleeping on sidewalks while taxpayer dollars support non-citizens has long been a point of outrage. This executive order flips the script—offering dignity, support, and a real shot at recovery for the men and women who served. For many, it’s not just policy. It’s personal.