Metro East Sun

House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mike Bost has responded to a new Congressionally Mandated Report from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that highlights issues in the delivery of services to veterans at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center.

Bost expressed concern over how resources and land intended for veterans have been managed. “For far too long, homeless veterans at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center have received the short end of the stick. With the release of this latest Congressionally Mandated Report, it is clear that VA has been dramatically underpaid for renting land that could have been used to directly benefit veterans,” said Chairman Bost.

He criticized arrangements between the VA and other organizations using campus land. “Instead of paying market rate in Brentwood California, one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the nation, the University of California at Los Angles has used baseball tickets, tailgates, kayaking, and a legal clinic that failed to be open when homeless veterans needed their services most – to pay for their baseball stadium on land that belongs to VA,” Chairman Bost continued. “Time and time again, UCLA and the other well connected lessees have failed to uphold their end of the contract with VA."

Bost also pointed out ongoing problems under recent administrations but welcomed current efforts by Secretary Collins. "After years of mismanagement during the Biden administration, I am glad that Secretary Collins is conducting a top-down review of the state of the West LA Campus to ensure it benefits veterans. I look forward to working in a bipartisan way to review President Trump’s Executive Order on this issue, and holding VA employees – and stakeholders in the area who let this fly under the radar for too long – accountable."

The report follows ongoing scrutiny over how campus assets are managed and whether they serve local homeless veterans as intended.