Trump's Va Hospitals: Closure Or Care?

Former US President Donald Trump has been accused of considering closing some VA hospitals. In an upcoming book by his former VA secretary, David Shulkin, Trump is said to have explored ways his administration could close government-run VA medical centers that he viewed as poorly performing. While Trump's order calls for an investigation into past court reversals and the revocation of back pay for problematic employees, he has also been criticized for censorship and cutting federal safety net programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. However, Trump's plans for VA reforms have been praised by conservative groups and VA leadership, and he has signed legislation giving veterans more freedom to see doctors outside the VA.

Trump considered closing VA hospitals

During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump promised major upgrades to the Manchester VA Medical Center, including a dramatic expansion of its healthcare offerings. However, according to an upcoming book by his former VA secretary, David Shulkin, Trump considered closing some VA hospitals. In the book, Shulkin describes a conversation in the Oval Office on March 6, 2017, where Trump explored ways to shut down government-run VA medical centers that he viewed as poorly performing. At the meeting, Trump asked, "should we begin to close the VAs?" Shulkin responded that the VA was working with Congress to address underperforming facilities, either by fixing or closing them. Trump's son-in-law and White House adviser, Jared Kushner, agreed with the president, saying, "Yes. We're still in a war, so we could."

Despite considering closing some VA hospitals, Trump ultimately signed an executive order to provide better care to veterans, improve accountability for such care, and establish a National Center for Warrior Independence for homeless veterans. The order also mandated an action plan to expand services and support a full-service medical center in New Hampshire, which is currently the only state without one. VA Secretary Doug Collins stated that the executive order would enable them to ensure the West Los Angeles Campus, which had been leased to a private school and the University of California baseball team, would be used as intended: to benefit veterans.

Trump's efforts have been praised by conservative groups and VA leadership, who claim that they build on the historic reforms and achievements of his first term, expanding care and opportunities for veterans. However, Trump's administration has also faced criticism for its handling of the VA. There have been reports of censorship, with VA physicians and scientists ordered not to publish in medical journals or speak with the public without first seeking clearance from Trump appointees. Additionally, Trump's plans to cut the federal workforce have raised concerns, with one article in the New England Journal of Medicine warning that cancelled contracts, layoffs, and a planned staff reduction of 80,000 employees in the VA could jeopardize the health of millions of veterans.

Trump's VA Secretary, David Shulkin, dissuaded him from closing VA hospitals

In March 2017, President Donald Trump considered closing parts of the VA health system. In a conversation in the Oval Office, Trump explored ways to shut down government-run VA medical centers that he viewed as poorly performing. This was after his 2016 campaign, in which privatizing VA became a political issue after he pledged to direct more veterans to private-sector doctors outside the VA.

Trump's former VA Secretary, David Shulkin, in his book, "It Shouldn't Be This Hard to Serve Your Country," describes this conversation and how he dissuaded Trump from pursuing that route. Shulkin, a former Obama administration official, persuaded Trump to sign executive orders for changes with wider support, such as expanded telehealth options for veterans. Shulkin also pushed a plan to give veterans wider access to doctors outside the VA medical system, arguing that veterans should get "more choice in the say of their care."

Shulkin's book reveals that Trump's plans regarding privatization were still an open question when Shulkin was fired. Shulkin was fired in March 2018. Shulkin cited ethical concerns over an inappropriate trip to Europe and a mounting rebellion by political appointees in his agency as reasons for his dismissal. However, he also suggested that political forces inside and outside the administration, prioritizing profits over veteran care, contributed to his ousting.

Despite questions about his intentions to preserve the VA, Trump has taken steps toward improving veteran care. During his first term, he transformed the Department of Veterans Affairs, expanded care and opportunities for veterans, and addressed issues with wait times. Trump also signed an executive order to provide better care to veterans, improve accountability, and establish a National Center for Warrior Independence for homeless veterans. These actions drew praise from conservative groups and VA leadership.

Trump's executive order mandates VA reforms

There is no evidence that former President Trump wanted to close VA hospitals. In fact, Trump's executive order mandates VA reforms, which include building new hospitals and reducing wait times for veterans' healthcare appointments.

The executive order, signed by Trump in an Oval Office ceremony, would mandate reduced wait times for veterans' healthcare appointments through expanded hours at VA facilities and relaxed rules for community care appointments. The order also calls for the construction of a new veterans' hospital in New Hampshire, which is currently the only state without a full-service VA medical center. The order further instructs the VA to "take appropriate action" against employees who have committed misconduct and to prioritize the use of the VA's West Los Angeles Campus for the benefit of veterans.

Trump's executive order also includes plans to address veteran homelessness, with the establishment of a National Center for Warrior Independence, and the use of vouchers to support homeless veterans. The order mandates an action plan to expand services to support a full-service medical center in New Hampshire by early November.

The executive order was met with praise by conservative groups and VA leadership, who applauded the president's vision for reforms. However, White House officials did not provide specifics on how the proposals would be implemented or how much they would cost.

It is worth noting that there has been criticism of the Trump administration's handling of the VA, with some alleging censorship and concerns about massive cuts to the federal workforce, including at the VA.

Trump's plans for offices aiding homeless veterans

In May 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to provide better care to veterans, improve accountability for such care, and establish a National Center for Warrior Independence for homeless veterans. This centre will be built on the 388-acre West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center site, which has been the subject of litigation for years.

The executive order mandates "an action plan to expand services to support a full-service medical centre in New Hampshire" by early November. The order also directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to use vouchers to support homeless veterans.

The goal is to house up to 6,000 homeless veterans at this centre by 2028. The centre will promote self-sufficiency through housing, substance abuse treatment, and support for productive work for the veterans housed there.

Trump's plans for a series of offices focused on aiding homeless veterans would be crafted around the controversial West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Medical Center site. Veterans Affairs officials would build "facilities and resources to help our veterans earn back their self-sufficiency" on the site in California.

Trump's executive order also builds on the progress made during his first term, which transformed the Department of Veterans Affairs and expanded care and opportunities for veterans. During his first term, Trump signed legislation to increase accountability and expand benefits and choices for veterans in accessing care.

Trump's cuts to federal safety net programs

There is no explicit indication that Trump wants to close VA hospitals. However, there is evidence of censorship and restrictions imposed on VA physicians and scientists, including orders to not publish in medical journals or speak with the public without clearance from Trump appointees. Additionally, there have been concerns about cancelled contracts, layoffs, and planned staff reductions within the VA system, which could potentially impact the accessibility and quality of healthcare services for veterans.

Turning to the topic of Trump's cuts to federal safety net programs, his administration has proposed significant reductions or eliminations of various social programs aimed at assisting low- and moderate-income individuals and families. One notable target is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. The Trump administration has consistently sought reductions of around $180-220 billion over 10 years, amounting to a 25-30% decrease in funding. These cuts are estimated to impact about 3 million people, including those with incomes just above the poverty line.

Trump's "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" also targets Medicaid, a program that provides healthcare to poor and disabled Americans. The bill proposes slashing funding for Medicaid by nearly $700 billion, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Additionally, certain recipients aged 19 to 64 would be required to work at least 80 hours a month or engage in community service, school attendance, or work programs to retain their benefits. This mandate is expected to lead to a loss of health insurance coverage for many individuals.

Furthermore, Trump's budgets have included large reductions in cash assistance, including cuts to benefits for low-income children with disabilities through Supplemental Security Income (SSI). There have also been reductions in federal funding for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and initial Social Security disability benefits. The administration's budgets have prioritized savings, with a focus on reducing benefits and services for people with low or modest incomes.

In addition to cuts in health and food assistance, Trump's budgets have also targeted housing assistance. The 2019 budget proposed a $6.8 billion cut to Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs, representing a 14.2% decrease from the 2017 level. These cuts have been described as the largest retrenchment of federal housing aid since the U.S. Housing Act of 1937. The administration's focus on reducing spending has often contradicted its rhetoric about expanding opportunities for those facing economic difficulties.

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