Columbia VA receives funding for continued infrastructure improvements

The funding is part of a record $4.8 billion in nationwide VA spending to modernize, repair, and improve health care facilities in FY2026 via the Veterans Health Administration’s Non-Recurring Maintenance program.

Funded projects for Columbia VA in the third quarter of FY2026 are: 

• Electronic Health Record Management (EHRM) Infrastructure Upgrades
• Patient Parking Lot Repair and Resurfacing
• Electrical Infrastructure Improvements in the Inpatient Bed Tower, Building 100
• Upgrade Electrical Panels and Breakers in Campus Outpatient Buildings
• Elevator modernization in Buildings 9, 100, 106 and 100A
• Renovate for Digestive Disease Endoscopy Design
• Replacement of Campus Sanitary Sewer System
• Repair of Campus Perimeter Fence
• Upgrade Boiler Plant Control System
• Renovate Specialty Care – Building 100, 2nd Floor (South Wing)

“This funding allows Columbia VA Health Care System to continue modernizing and improving our infrastructure, so our facilities remain safe, efficient, and equipped to provide high-quality care for Veterans,” said Jeffrey Soots, Columbia VA acting executive director.

Of the total $4.8 billion committed for fiscal year 2026, VA has obligated a total of $2.3 billion. That obligation of funds in the third quarter includes:

• $915 million to repair and upgrade outdated infrastructure systems in medical facilities.
• $229 million for maintenance and modernization of facility infrastructure to support future electronic health record system updates.
• $11 million for major building upgrades like elevators, electrical systems, and boiler plants.

This investment is just one of many ways the Trump Administration is making VA work better for Veterans. For example, VA has: 

• Enrolled more than 200,000 new Veterans in VA health care in 2026.
• Opened 38 new VA health care facilities since Jan. 20, 2025, expanding health care access for Veterans around the country.
• Reduced the backlog of Veterans waiting for VA benefits by 74% since Jan. 20, 2025, after it increased 24% during the Biden Administration. In February, this backlog fell to less than 100,000 claims for the first time since 2020.
• Offered Veterans more than 3 million appointments outside of normal operating hours. These early-morning, evening, and weekend appointments are giving Veterans more timely and convenient options for care.
• Permanently housed 51,936 homeless Veterans across the country in FY25, the highest total in seven years.

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