SAN ANTONIO – The fiscal year 2027 budget proposed by President Donald Trump earmarks $30 million for acquiring land to construct a new veteran medical center in San Antonio. This prospective facility is intended to replace the existing Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital.
According to the budget proposal, this potential land purchase is deemed “a crucial initial step to accommodate the expanding veteran demographic within the San Antonio area.”
San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones has been a long-time advocate for this initiative.
Jones commented, “Sadly, a significant number of veterans who died by suicide were not receiving the benefits they had earned. The easier we can make it for my fellow veterans to access the necessary care, the better.”
On March 10, Jones previously communicated with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Douglas Collins via letter, conveying her support for, and the urgent need of, a new VA medical center in San Antonio.
In her letter, Jones stated, “This investment is vital to ensure that veterans across our community can access modern, high-quality inpatient and outpatient services, including advanced specialty care, mental health support, and other essential clinical programs delivered throughout the region.”
Jones further highlighted several points she believes underscore the necessity for a new medical facility to supersede the Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital:
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A notable 64% of veteran healthcare enrollees in the region are under the age of 64, a figure that surpasses the national average.
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Despite operating the second-busiest emergency department within the Veterans Health Administration, the South Texas Veterans Healthcare System only offers 27 beds.
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A substantial rise in the number of female veterans seeking healthcare in South Texas is projected.
“We have only one VA hospital, for the entire community,” Jones reiterated. “Therefore, that VA hospital must be exceptional, and I am pleased we are taking this initial step.”
The Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital first opened its doors and admitted its inaugural patient in 1973. Jones emphasized that a new facility is imperative to meet “21st-century clinical standards.”
Jones elaborated to KSAT, “When we examine their emergency bed capacity, for instance, it’s merely a fraction of what we actually require, especially when considering the number of new VA facilities constructed in other communities across Texas.”
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