By: Markus

In his newsletter, Derrick Van Orden proudly touts his VA Home Loan Program Reform Act, which replaces VASP, without explaining the impacts on veterans and their families.

First, the act does nothing for veterans who can’t afford to buy a home in the first place. Rising housing prices and property taxes mean that even with a VA-backed loan, many veterans are priced out of the market. Removing loan limits sounds helpful, but it primarily benefits higher-income buyers, not veterans living on fixed incomes or those struggling to find stable housing.

Second, the act does nothing to address veteran homelessness, which remains a crisis. We need policies that expand affordable housing and rental support, not just more loans that saddle veterans with debt.

Third, VA-backed loans still come with closing costs, inspections, and fees that many veterans can’t pay upfront, forcing them to compete in a market that favors cash buyers and leaving them locked out of homeownership.

Veterans who are already doing financially well (like Van Orden himself) will profit from this act, but not the ones struggling to get or keep a home.

If Congress truly wants to honor veterans’ service, they need to stop handing out hollow headlines and start delivering real solutions. Our veterans don’t need more empty gestures; they need leaders willing to fight for policies that guarantee every veteran a safe, stable place to call home.