California Budget Invests $34 Million in Veteran Services, With $19 Million for Orange County Veterans Cemetery
The Office of the Governor of California in Sacramento announced on July 21, 2026, that the recently enacted state budget invests $34 million to expand veteran services, strengthen housing and benefits programs, and advance construction of the long-awaited Southern California Veterans Cemetery in Orange County. Governor Gavin Newsom said California has a responsibility to honor those who served with action, helping more veterans access earned benefits, remain safely housed, and ensuring Southern California veterans finally have the state veterans cemetery they have long deserved.
The largest piece is $19 million for the Southern California Veterans Cemetery: $9 million to construct an access road, and $10 million in expenditure authority to begin preliminary plans, working drawings and construction for Phase I of the project. CalVet Secretary Lindsey Sin said the Governor and the Legislature had provided the resources and CalVet was putting the investments to work through its programs and local partners.
The remaining investments are $6 million to strengthen County Veterans Service Offices so more veterans can receive expert assistance accessing disability compensation, pensions, health care and other earned federal benefits, including $5 million for the county offices; $7 million to continue the Veterans Support to Self-Reliance Program, which provides housing stability and supportive services, including nursing care, behavioral health supports, medication management and peer support, for veterans age 55 and older who are homeless or at risk; and $2 million to expand no-cost legal services that help veterans obtain discharge upgrades restoring eligibility for federal benefits after military sexual trauma, traumatic brain injury, behavioral health conditions, discrimination or other qualifying circumstances.
Since 2019, the Governor's Office said, California has invested more than $10.5 billion supporting veterans and military families across housing, mental health, benefits assistance, consumer protections and economic opportunity.
Related: Newsom Signs California 2026-27 Budget With No Deficit This Year or Next, Reserves Near $30 Billion
Source: Office of the Governor of California
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：位于萨克拉门托的加州议会大厦（资料照片），这笔退伍军人投入来自刚生效的州预算。Andre m 摄，CC BY-SA 3.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: The California State Capitol in Sacramento (file photo); the veterans funding comes from the recently enacted state budget. Photo by Andre m, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
