The Arizona Republic

VA weighed down by property not being used

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“We owe it to the American taxpayer to apply as much of our funding as possible to helping veterans. Maintainin­g vacant buildings ... makes no sense.” VA Secretary David Shulkin

Shulkin is considerin­g shuttering to save costs.

“We owe it to the American taxpayer to apply as much of our funding as possible to helping veterans,” Shulkin said. “Maintainin­g vacant buildings, including close to 100 from the Revolution­ary War and Civil War, makes no sense, and we’re working as quickly as possible to get them out of our inventory.”

The VA is one of three areas within the federal government that was allocated an overall budget increase by the Trump administra­tion. The total budget proposal laid out for VA by the Trump administra­tion is about $186.5 billion.

Most of the money Trump proposed is targeted at continuing the Veterans Choice program, which allows veterans to access health care through private providers. The budget proposal includes $600 million dedicated to reducing the numbers of homeless veterans.

The VA’s list of buildings also raises questions of how the VA comes into possession of such facilities and what might become of the places that have historical significan­ce.

Jackson said the properties came to the VA over several decades when agencies such as the War Department were shuttered and their assets shifted to other federal organizati­ons.

“Where appropriat­e, VA has used and has attempted to reuse these assets in support of veterans as well as partnered with the community and other federal, state and local agencies for usage of these assets,” Jackson said.

Whatever the VA decides to do with the old facilities, Jackson said, the department will use “due diligence” to make sure the facilities on the National Register are protected and other usable facilities are repurposed, if possible.

But many will end up demolished.

“Depending on the disposal or reuse action, the specific due diligence required will vary, but all actions would require some due diligence,” Jackson said. “VA is currently conducting this analysis with all the vacant buildings to understand the costs and benefits available with each possible approach and what level of due diligence is appropriat­e for each asset.”

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