T
he Department of Veterans Affairs plans to appeal a federal court order requiring it to build thousands of homes for military veterans on the West L.A. VA Campus. The appeal comes after U.S. District Judge David O. Carter rejected UCLA's bid to delay construction of emergency veteran housing on parking lots adjacent to the university's Jackie Robinson Stadium.

    Carter had previously ordered the VA to design and build temporary modular housing on the 388-acre facility, citing a need for quick action before the rainy season. The judge found that veterans are entitled to an additional 2,550 homes on the campus, exceeding the agency's initial promise of 1,200 units by 2030.

    The court also terminated land-use agreements with UCLA and other private interests, including the Brentwood School, finding them to be illegal. Carter wrote that the West L.A. VA had prioritized serving wealthy neighbors over veterans, engaging in "back-room deals and fraud."

    Judge Carter directed the VA to build 750 units of temporary housing within 18 months and develop a plan for an additional 1,800 permanent housing units. The court is now working on "exit strategies" for former tenants to ensure the land is used primarily for veteran benefit.