Welcome to the Veterans’ Newsletter!

In today's edition:

• House lawmakers have proposed a $453 billion VA budget for FY2026, with significant increases in community care, toxic exposure funding, and electronic health record modernization.

• A new executive order aims to create housing for 6,000 homeless Veterans at the West LA VA campus by 2028, reviving a long-stalled project amid concerns about feasibility and funding.

• The VA’s FY2025 budget has increased by $31.7 billion to meet rising costs from the PACT Act, and a FY2026 request of $441.3 billion supports toxic exposure care and benefits.

• The VA has released a national roundup of in-person and virtual Veteran events from June 5–11, 2025, including wellness programs, town halls, and caregiver support.

• Veterans and families are encouraged to complete the 2025 Military Family Lifestyle Survey to help shape national policies on pay, benefits, and spouse employment.

• And more…

News of the Week

📰 Top Veteran Stories

House Proposes Boost to VA Budget, Expands Community Care Funding

House lawmakers have released a proposed fiscal year 2026 budget that would allocate $453 billion to the Department of Veterans Affairs, marking an $83 billion increase over the current year. Most of this rise is attributed to mandatory spending, which includes benefits like disability compensation. Discretionary funding would grow by 4% to $134 billion, primarily for health care services.

A key focus of the proposal is community care, a program that allows veterans to receive care from non-VA providers. The bill sets aside $34 billion for community care, up from the current year's $22 billion, aligning with increased program use since the 2018 Mission Act expanded eligibility. This proposed funding also includes $2.5 billion for the VA’s electronic health records modernization, a program paused in 2023 but expected to resume next year.

The budget would also allocate $53 billion to the Toxic Exposures Fund to support care and benefits related to the PACT Act, which expanded services for veterans affected by toxic exposure.

Additionally, the plan includes $18 billion for military construction, with specific increases for barracks upgrades, child care facility planning, and military family housing. The bill contains several policy directives regarding veterans' health care access and VA administrative practices. It is set for subcommittee debate on Thursday, followed by full committee review next week.

Senate Reviews Nominee for VA Inspector General Post

Outside the West Los Angeles VA campus—donated initially in 1888 to house disabled Veterans—Iraq War Veteran Irving Webb and others continue to live unhoused despite decades of underused land and delayed construction. The 388-acre campus has been tied up by leases for private use and legal disputes, while Los Angeles remains home to the nation’s largest population of homeless Veterans.

A recent White House executive order aims to transform the site into the National Center for Warrior Independence, calling for housing for 6,000 Veterans by 2028. Advocates, including Iraq veteran Rob Reynolds, support the plan, citing the need for accessible housing near healthcare services. However, critics point out that the order came without consultation from local VA officials and raises questions about feasibility, funding, and the potential relocation of Veterans from outside LA.

The order suggests funds may be redirected from other federal programs, prompting skepticism about intent and implementation. Still, local groups remain cautiously optimistic that the long-stalled development may finally accelerate, offering shelter and a supportive, long-term community for Veterans in need.

VA Budget Rises to Cover Toxic Exposure and Benefits Costs

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced that its fiscal year 2025 budget will rise to over $400 billion, due to higher-than-expected costs for disability compensation and health care tied to toxic exposures. Congress recently approved an additional $31.7 billion to meet legal obligations under the PACT Act and other benefit programs.

Looking ahead to fiscal year 2026, which begins Oct. 1, the VA requests $441.3 billion—a 10% increase from the adjusted 2025 budget. Of that, $301.2 billion would go toward mandatory spending for benefits like disability pay and pensions. Spending from the Toxic Exposures Fund, created by the PACT Act to support veterans affected by burn pits and other hazardous exposures, is projected to rise from $30.4 billion in 2025 to $52.6 billion in 2026.

The proposed budget includes nearly $3.5 billion to modernize the VA’s electronic medical records system for better interoperability with other federal and private health systems. Funding for community care and non-VA medical services would increase from $22.5 billion to $34 billion. In comparison, direct VA medical services would decrease from $69 billion to $57 billion, reflecting shifts in care delivery.

The 2026 proposal would support 455,874 full-time positions, a slight reduction from 2025. While a broader staffing reform is under review, no significant workforce cuts are formally included in the current budget. Additional funds are also earmarked for cemetery services, major construction projects, and ongoing structural and efficiency evaluations across the department.

📜 VBA Updates

Upcoming Veteran Events: June 5–11, 2025: National & Local Opportunities

The VA has compiled a weekly roundup of online and in-person events for Veterans, service members, caregivers, and families nationwide. While not an endorsement of any third-party services, this guide includes educational webinars, support groups, resource fairs, and health-related events tailored to the Veteran community.

Highlights include:

• Virtual offerings like meditation classes, career coaching, support groups, and VA town halls

• In-person events such as medical outreach, resource fairs, and legal aid sessions in states like California, Texas, Virginia, and Illinois

• Special events for caregivers, entrepreneurs, and women Veterans

Veterans are encouraged to verify event details with the hosting organizations. For more listings and local updates, visit the VA Facility Locator and Outreach Events.

⚕️ Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Updates

Make Your Voice Count: Help Shape Military Family Policy with the 2025 MFLS

Veterans and their families are encouraged to take the 2025 Military Family Lifestyle Survey (MFLS), led by Blue Star Families. While the VA does not endorse outside organizations, this survey has proven to be a powerful tool in shaping national policy. 

Past participation has led to meaningful changes, including a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted members, expanded child care support, increased Basic Needs Allowance, and improved spouse employment initiatives. In 2024, the VA adopted the 4+1 Commitment to enhance military spouse employment, marking a significant federal milestone influenced by MFLS data.

Your input matters. With over 107,000 responses, the MFLS remains the largest and most impactful survey. Sharing your experiences, you help shape legislation like the National Defense Authorization Act and ensure military family needs remain a priority. Take the 2025 MFLS today and stay tuned for the 2026 results release to see how your voice continues to drive lasting change.

Veteran App of the Week

Habitica

Habitica is a free productivity app that turns your daily tasks and goals into a role-playing game, offering a creative and engaging way for Veterans to stay motivated and organized in post-service life. Users create a character, set personal goals, and earn rewards by completing real-life habits, daily tasks, and to-do lists. For Veterans adjusting to civilian life or managing challenges like ADHD, anxiety, or lack of routine, Habitica can help restore structure, accountability, and a sense of achievement.

The app also includes social features like party quests and guilds, allowing users to team up with others for added motivation and support. Whether you're building new fitness habits, managing appointments, or just trying to stay on track each day, Habitica’s visual progress system and gamified experience can make it easier to stick to routines. It's available on iOS, Android, and desktop. While Habitica is not a replacement for mental health care, it can be a useful self-management tool for Veterans alongside support from VA providers or other professionals.

Veteran Community Highlight

VFW Post 1 – Denver, Colorado

Established in 1899 by veterans of the First Colorado Volunteers returning from the Philippine-American War, VFW Post 1 in Denver is recognized as the first and oldest Veterans of Foreign Wars post. Located at 841 Santa Fe Drive in Denver's Art District, the post has evolved into a vibrant Veteran Community Center emphasizing wellness, creativity, and community engagement.

A cornerstone of Post 1's offerings is the Veterans Arts Council (VAC), founded in 2015. The VAC provides a platform for veteran artists across various mediums, hosting exhibitions open to the public during the district's popular First Friday Art Walks. Beyond art, Post 1 offers programs like yoga classes, meditation sessions, and partnerships with organizations such as Healing Warriors to provide non-narcotic therapies. These initiatives reflect Post 1's commitment to addressing the diverse needs of modern veterans, fostering a sense of purpose and community.

Military Deals of the Week

*We do not explicitly endorse any of these companies as we have not personally purchased from many of them. We are simply sharing online deals that we have found for your convenience.

• 20% Off: Ekster

• 15% Off: Sonos

• 10%:  Sony

Meme of the Week

Hero of the Week: Rodney Maxwell Davis

Rodney Maxwell Davis was born on April 7, 1942, in Macon, GA, into a close-knit African American family during the height of segregation in the Deep South. Raised in a working-class neighborhood, Davis was known for his discipline, strong moral compass, and sense of responsibility—traits that would later define his military service. After graduating from Peter G. Appling High School in 1961, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps to serve his country and pursue a path of personal growth and opportunity.

Davis quickly earned a reputation for his dedication and reliability in the Marines. Following basic training, he was assigned to units that took him to various posts, including overseas deployments. He was eventually stationed with Company B, 1st Battalion, 5th Marines, 1st Marine Division. In 1967, Davis deployed to Vietnam as the conflict escalated, and he soon found himself operating in Quảng Nam Province—one of the war’s most volatile regions. His unit engaged enemy forces in Operation Swift, a major offensive against the North Vietnamese Army in the Que Son Valley.

On Sep. 6, 1967, during intense combat in the rice paddies and jungles of Quảng Nam, Davis’s platoon came under sudden and overwhelming attack by a large enemy force. The Marines were outnumbered and caught in a vulnerable position, pinned down by machine-gun fire and grenades. Amid the chaos, Davis took the initiative, moving along the trench line to assist wounded Marines, coordinate fire, and maintain morale amid chaos.. As the firefight raged and Marines fell wounded around him, Davis displayed remarkable composure and leadership, moving through the trench system to direct fire, encourage his fellow Marines, and maintain unit cohesion.

At the height of the battle, a hostile grenade landed in the middle of the trench, where several Marines had taken cover. In an instant, Davis made the ultimate decision: without regard for his safety, he threw himself on the grenade, absorbing the full blast with his body. He was killed instantly. His selfless act saved the lives of the Marines around him and prevented what could have been a far more devastating loss.

Sergeant Rodney M. Davis was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration, for his extraordinary heroism and self-sacrifice. His Medal of Honor citation praised his “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.” Davis was laid to rest in his hometown of Macon, Georgia, with full military honors.

In the years since his death, Davis’s legacy has been honored in numerous ways. In 1987, the U.S. Navy commissioned the USS Rodney M. Davis (FFG-60), a guided-missile frigate named in his honor, one of the few such ships named after an enlisted Marine. His memory continues to serve as an enduring symbol of bravery, leadership, and ultimate sacrifice, reminding future generations of the courage and humanity that can arise in the darkest moments of war.

Businesses That Support Veterans

Veterans Community Project: Kansas City, MO

Veterans Community Project (VCP) is a nonprofit organization founded in Kansas City in 2015 by a group of combat Veterans determined to eliminate Veteran homelessness. The organization has become nationally recognized for its innovative approach to transitional housing and wraparound support services.

VCP’s flagship initiative is its Veterans Village—a specialized community of tiny homes built specifically for homeless Veterans. Each home provides privacy, safety, and dignity. At the same time, VCP’s on-site Veteran Outreach Center offers case management, mental health services, employment support, and benefits navigation—all tailored to each Veteran’s needs. VCP accepts all Veterans, regardless of discharge status, which sets it apart from many traditional programs.

Beyond housing, VCP engages the broader Kansas City community through service projects, awareness campaigns, and community events that help Veterans reconnect and reintegrate. Under the leadership of CEO Jason Kander, an Army Veteran and former Missouri Secretary of State, Veterans Community Project has expanded to other cities across the U.S., while maintaining its deep roots and impact in Kansas City.

Thank You For Your Service!

Not every service member may receive the Medal of Honor or garner widespread recognition, but that doesn't diminish the invaluable contributions each one has made to the sanctity and security of our great nation. 

The saying "freedom isn't free" holds profound truth–it resonates because every individual in the United States relies on the dedication of its military to safeguard the freedoms they enjoy. Each veteran has consciously defended these liberties, symbolizing a collective commitment to the nation's well-being. 

Whether you fought on the front lines or provided crucial support behind the scenes, thank you!

Weekly Satisfaction Poll

Until Next Time!

Stay tuned for next week’s edition, where we’ll cover more stories and policy updates and find tools & deals for the veteran community.

Thanks,

The Veterans Newsletter