WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Veterans Affairs said Wednesday it will spend $4.8 billion in fiscal year 2026 to modernize, repair, and improve health care facilities nationwide, launching what it called the largest single-year investment in the Veterans Health Administration’s Non-Recurring Maintenance program in the agency’s history.
VA said the funding will target one-time maintenance projects that go beyond routine upkeep, including major replacements and upgrades needed to keep facilities operational and support safe, effective patient care.
“Under President Trump, VA is putting Veterans first, and this historic investment underscores that fact,” VA Secretary Doug Collins said. He said improvements to facilities, equipment, and infrastructure translate into better care and that the funds are intended to accelerate that work across the system.
VA said the $4.8 billion includes $2.8 billion to repair and upgrade outdated infrastructure systems in medical facilities, $1.0 billion for maintenance and modernization of electronic health record systems including facility preparation for future updates, and $500 million for major building upgrades such as elevators, electrical systems, and boiler plants. Another $500 million will be used to modernize medical centers to support current and future care, the department said.
Specific projects will be determined quarterly, VA said. The department posted the first-quarter project list totaling $468 million at https://www.va.gov/health/docs/VHA-NRM-Project-Awards-FY2026-Q1.pdf.
Two days later, on Friday, VA also announced a leadership change at the top of the department’s front office: Chief of Staff Chris Syrek will leave for a private-sector opportunity, with his last day set for Friday, February 13, 2026. VA Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs Curt Cashour will succeed him, the department said.
Syrek has served as VA chief of staff since Monday, January 20, 2025, and played a central role in Collins’ Senate confirmation process and the department’s presidential transition, VA said. He previously served as deputy chief of staff during the first Trump administration.
VA said that since January 20, 2025, the department cut the backlog of veterans waiting for benefits by 60% after it increased 24% during the Biden administration, eliminated the backlog of veteran families waiting for VA health care, and processed a fiscal-year record of three million disability claims by Tuesday, September 30, 2025. VA also said it opened 25 new health care clinics, offered veterans more than 1.9 million appointments outside normal operating hours, and permanently housed 51,936 homeless veterans in fiscal year 2025, the highest total in seven years.
“Chris has been a key part of our leadership team and my most trusted advisor since day one,” Collins said, adding that Syrek helped drive operational improvements and deliver on President Trump’s commitments to veterans.
Cashour is in his second tenure at VA, the department said, having previously served as press secretary and deputy assistant secretary for public affairs during the first Trump administration. VA said he worked on Collins’ confirmation process, led congressional communications supporting the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act, and is an Iraq War veteran and Bronze Star recipient.
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