The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has approved nearly $600 million in infrastructure improvements as part of a broader effort to modernize its facilities and strengthen health care for veterans.
The funding, announced this week, covers previously approved projects scheduled for the second year of 2026 and is part of the largest maintenance investment in the agency’s history.
Why It Matters
The funding represents a major effort by the Department of Veterans Affairs to modernize aging hospitals and clinics that serve millions of veterans nationwide.
The upgrades come as the VA faces ongoing scrutiny over infrastructure problems, patient access and delays tied to its larger health care modernization efforts. Supporters say the investments could improve care and reliability at facilities across the country, while critics will likely closely watch whether the agency can deliver the projects efficiently and on schedule.
What To Know
According to the VA, the department approved $596 million in infrastructure improvements for the second quarter of FY 2026.
The funding is part of a record $4.8 billion non‑recurring maintenance (NRM) budget for FY 2026, with the VA obligating $1.064 billion of that total through the second quarter.
The specific projects focus on maintaining and improving operational capability and health care delivery at VA medical facilities.
“Veterans will feel these changes most directly through more reliable medical facilities by upgrading infrastructure that supports future electronic health record improvements,” Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek.
“It likely won’t affect other areas of support the VA offers, as it’s more based on one-time funding meant to prevent older buildings and outdated systems from becoming barriers to care. Ultimately, the funding addresses an area many veterans have had ongoing concerns about when it comes to having facilities that are adequate for providing good service and having modern amenities to better accommodate patients.”
VA Spending Across Presidencies
While the exact data on infrastructure spending at the VA is unclear for recent presidential administrations, presidents have tended to spend more in their annual VA budget since the early 2000s.
Where the Money Is Going
The VA outlined how the second‑quarter funding will be used:
- $795 million to repair and upgrade outdated infrastructure systems in medical facilities
- $255 million for maintenance and modernization to support future electronic health record (EHR) system updates
- $13 million for major building upgrades, including elevators, electrical systems, and boiler plants
These upgrades are intended to address long‑standing maintenance needs while preparing facilities for new technology deployments.
However, some are still concerned that the VA’s recent staffing drop could hurt veterans in the long run. Last year, the agency made headlines for reducing its employee count by nearly 30,000 workers.
“Adding $4.8B in non-recurring maintenance is a big number, especially at a time when you’re seeing staffing cuts across the same system,” Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. “Upgrading facilities is one thing, but actually staffing them with qualified professionals is another, and training new hires comes with real cost.”
Broader VA Changes
The infrastructure investment is one piece of a greater effort that the VA says is improving services for veterans.
The department also reported that it has enrolled more than 125,000 new veterans in VA health care this year alone and opened 35 new VA health care facilities since January 20, 2025.
The agency also reduced the backlog of veterans waiting for benefits by 70 percent since that date and completed 82,083,918 direct care appointments in fiscal year 2025.
The VA also permanently housed 51,936 homeless veterans in FY 2025, the highest total in seven years, its news release said.
Still, the drop in human workers has concerned some veterans and veterans’ advocacy groups.
“Amidst the improvements in infrastructure, we cannot forget that nearly 6 percent of the VA staff was cut in 2025,” Drew Powers, the founder of Illinois-based Powers Financial Group, told Newsweek. “Especially for our aging and disabled Veterans, human assistance is vital to the delivery of services. Hopefully the increases in technology and infrastructure spending are not offset by human resources. Our Veterans deserve a caring person, not a self-serve kiosk.”
What VA Leadership Is Saying
VA Secretary Doug Collins said the investments reflect the agency’s focus on improving veterans’ experiences with the department.
“The Trump Administration is making massive improvements in VA healthcare and benefits, and Veterans are noticing,” Collins said in a statement. “The historic investments we’re making in VA facilities across the nation are another reason why we’ve added more than 125,000 VA healthcare enrollees in 2026 alone.”
What Happens Next
According to the VA, the department plans to deploy a total of $4.8 billion in non‑recurring maintenance funds by the end of FY 2026 with additional infrastructure projects expected to be approved in upcoming quarters.
VA officials say the funding will also prepare facilities for future electronic health record (EHR) system updates, meaning some veterans may see incremental improvements over time rather than immediate changes at every location.
Update 5/15/26, 9:55 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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