VA Secretary Doug Collins Targets Wasteful Contracts at West Los Angeles Medical Center

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins announced sweeping changes at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center, focusing on slashing bloated contracts and reclaiming misused land to refocus the campus on its core mission of serving veterans.

Collins stated that these actions follow President Donald Trump’s initiative to transform the property into a hub aimed at ending veteran homelessness.

The secretary described the West Los Angeles campus as a prime asset that has been diverted from its intended purpose for years, limiting the VA’s ability to expand housing and treatment for struggling veterans. He noted that over 300 acres of land at the campus, excluding the hospital, have been misused.

“When I got here last year, this was an issue that was presented to me, and everybody just wanted to say we don’t need to deal with it; let it go,” Collins said. “I wasn’t going to do that.”

Among the arrangements under scrutiny is a land lease involving Brentwood School, which Collins claimed is paying far below market value—millions of dollars less than current rates.

Collins also highlighted other agreements, including parking lots and an oil-related operation, that occupy space intended for veteran housing and services.

The department is now moving decisively to unwind wasteful deals and return the campus to its true purpose: prioritizing veterans, especially those facing homelessness and serious health challenges.

“We’re getting back to the true purpose of the West Los Angeles facility,” Collins said. “That is to enhance the lives of our veterans, especially those who are homeless and need treatment for a lot of different things to get them back on their feet.”