VA St. Louis Health Care System 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. [Q1; Q2]

In addition to supporting our health records management system upgrade, third quarter funding for VA St. Louis will: 

• Prepare for a new Cathology Laboratory at the John J. Cochran campus
• Conduct hazardous material abatement at the John J. Cochran campus
• Upgrade boiler steam safety valves at the John J. Cochran campus
• Create a cohesive wayfinding system for Veterans at the John J. Cochran campus
• Upgrade several safety and security features, including interior physical security at John J. Cochran and campus safety at Jefferson Barracks

“This funding allows VA St. Louis Health Care System to continue modernizing and improving, so our facilities remain safe, efficient, and equipped to provide high-quality care for our Veterans in the St. Louis region,” said Candace Ifabiyi, CEO/Medical Center Director. 

Of the total $4.8 billion committed for fiscal year 2026, VA has obligated a total of $2.2 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• $915 million to repair and upgrade outdated infrastructure systems in medical facilities.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 180,000 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 72% 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 2.8 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.