"The Department of Veterans Affairs has required everyone associated with the planning employees, contractors and other government officials to sign nondisclosure agreements, and has denied both congressional staffers and veterans and their advocates the opportunity to review or comment on the plan, they say. I am thankful for President Trump's executive order, said Iraq war veteran Rob Reynolds, speaking at a roundtable on the executive order last week."
"But Reynolds, who has become an unofficial advocate for veterans trying to obtain housing and services on the West L.A. campus, said the VA has blown an opportunity to build trust with veterans. I've seen over the years how it goes when you have meetings behind closed doors and you don't consult with people affected by the plan, he said. There's going to be problems with that plan."
President Trump's executive order directs creation of a National Center for Warrior Independence to house thousands of veterans on the West Los Angeles Soldiers' Home campus. Support spans political lines but planning has proceeded under strict secrecy. The Department of Veterans Affairs required employees, contractors and officials to sign nondisclosure agreements and has denied congressional staffers, veterans and advocates the chance to review or comment on the action plan. Veteran advocates express gratitude for the order but warn that closed-door planning erodes trust and risks imposing radical change on land donated for disabled veterans.
Read at www.latimes.com
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