Statement from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) on the VA–DOJ Partnership on Guardianship for Vulnerable Veterans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 13, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, March 11, 2026, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a new Memorandum of Understanding that allows the federal government to pursue legal guardianship or conservatorship over the nation’s most vulnerable veterans, including veterans experiencing homelessness or at risk of becoming homeless.

Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA) supports efforts to ensure vulnerable veterans receive the care, housing, and services they need. However, we strongly oppose this agreement to facilitate federal involvement, particularly from the DOJ, in guardianship proceedings for veterans. Guardianship can remove a veteran’s ability to make decisions about their medical care, finances, housing, and benefits and once imposed, can be extremely difficult to reverse.

Veterans facing homelessness, mental health challenges, including substance use disorders, or complex care needs deserve compassionate, evidence-based support, not policies that could subject them to sweeping legal control without strong safeguards and due process. Before expanding the use of guardianship, VA should prioritize proven interventions such as permanent supportive housing, increased health care access and funding for mental health staff, and community-based services that help veterans maintain stability and independence.

“Veterans facing homelessness or complex care challenges need support, not fewer rights,” said Dr. Kyleanne Hunter, CEO of IAVA. “Many of our most vulnerable veterans not only face challenges regarding housing, but also face challenges such as substance use disorders, mental and physical health conditions, and may have had previous interactions with the justice system. This agreement opens our most vulnerable up exponentially to the risk of not having root causes of their conditions addressed, and may ultimately even render them ineligible for benefits. Rather than support our vulnerable veterans with meaningful, evidence-based approaches, this agreement puts already at-risk communities even further at risk of harm.”

IAVA calls on VA and DOJ to strongly reconsider this agreement and to provide greater clarity on program expectations, safeguards in place to protect veterans’ rights, and details on how the agencies will ensure guardianship is used only as a true last resort. Additionally, we call on Congress to pass the End Veteran Homelessness Act of 2025 (H.R. 1957), which would ensure that the most vulnerable veterans are provided with case managers to navigate housing solutions in a timely and effective manner.

Our nation has a responsibility to protect both the well-being and the civil liberties of the men and women who served. We urge the Administration to work closely with veteran service organizations and disability rights advocates prior to implementing such impactful decisions to ensure policies intended to support vulnerable veterans do not compromise their fundamental rights.

About IAVA: IAVA stands at the center of people, policy, and institutions to ensure that the lived experience of post-9/11 veterans is heard, measured, and acted on. We pair the experiences of post-9/11 veterans with evidence, use that to shape policy, and work with institutions that serve veterans to ensure that policies become real in veterans’ lives. By convening veterans, researchers, and decision-makers, IAVA drives the changes needed to ensure America serves the newest generation of veterans. 

Contact Information:

Jessica Finucan
Director, Policy and Advocacy
Email: press@iava.org
Website: IAVA.org

###