Funding for Improvements at Salem VA

The Salem VA Health Care System received funding for Non-recurring Maintenance projects in the second quarter of fiscal year 2026, after receiving funding in the first quarter of the fiscal year.

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.

Funding projects for the Salem VA Health Care System in the second quarter of FY2026 are:

• Upgrading and Replacing HVAC systems in Outpatient Clinical spaces (that provide specialty care services to Veterans) at the Salem VA Medical Center. The HVAC systems will ensure comfortable indoor temperatures for Veterans and staff. HVAC replacements will also take place in administrative spaces.
• Installing new energy efficient windows across five buildings at the Salem VA Medical Center – providing improved performance to elevate Veteran comfort. This will minimize drafts in winter and seal-in air conditioning during summer. The new windows will also enhance the eco-efficiency of the buildings.
• Installation of a new fire pump controller at the Salem VA Medical Center – providing reliable, constant water pressure when sprinklers are activated during detected fires. The fire pump controller will also stop water pressure when needed.
• Renovating an open shell space at the Salem VA Medical Center to create 16 new office workstations for staff.
• Continuing renovations of tile floors in 20 private patient restrooms in a Medical-Surgical Unit of the Salem VA Medical Center. This area of private patient rooms provides care for Veterans recovering from surgery or receiving care for illnesses.
• Continuing installation of new and upgraded gas and groundwater monitoring wells at the Salem VA Medical Center Campus (landfill) to ensure environmental safety compliance with Virginia Department of Environmental Quality standards.

“This funding allows the Salem VA Health Care System to continue modernizing and improving, so our facilities remain safe, efficient, and equipped to provide high-quality care for our Veterans across Southwest Virginia,” said Tammy Snyder, Interim Health Care System Director.

Of the total $4.8 billion committed for fiscal year 2026, VA has obligated a total of $1.064 billion. Obligation of funds includes:

• $795 million to repair and upgrade outdated infrastructure systems in medical facilities.
• $255 million for maintenance and modernization of facility infrastructure to support future electronic health record system updates.
• $13 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 100,000 new Veterans in VA health care in 2026.
• Opened 34 new VA health care facilities since Jan. 20, 2025, Opening 34 new VA health care facilities, expanding health care access for Veterans around the country.
• Reduced the backlog of Veterans waiting for VA benefits by 67% since Jan. 20, 2025, after it increased 24% during the Biden Administration.
• Completed 82,083,918 direct care appointments in FY2025, up 4.1% from FY2024.
• Offered Veterans more than 2.3 million appointments outside of normal operating hours, giving Veterans more timely and convenient options for care.
• Permanently housed 51,936 homeless Veterans across the country in FY2025, the highest total in seven years.