VA Extends Pilot Program to Accept Donated Facilities and Maintenance Projects Until 2031

The CHIP IN for Veterans Act of 2025 (Communities Helping Invest through Property and Improvements Needed for Veterans Act) is making some smart, administrative moves to help the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) keep its facilities in shape. Think of it as opening up the VA’s ability to accept help from the community when it comes to infrastructure.

The VA’s New Donation Wish List

This bill is primarily focused on expanding and extending a pilot program that allows the VA to accept donated facilities and improvements. Previously, the program was mostly focused on accepting large properties. Now, the bill expands what the VA can accept to include donations for a “minor construction or nonrecurring maintenance project.” This is a big deal because it means that a local community group or a large corporation can now donate funds or services specifically targeted at fixing a leaky roof, upgrading an outdated HVAC system, or building a new small clinic wing, rather than just donating an entire building.

More Time to Get Things Done

Perhaps the most practical change for anyone involved in these community efforts is the extension of the program deadline. The original pilot program was set to expire in December 2026. This bill pushes that expiration date back five years, all the way to December 16, 2031. For veterans who rely on these facilities, this means the VA has a much longer runway to acquire necessary facilities and maintenance improvements through private-public partnerships, potentially speeding up critical repairs that might otherwise be stuck in the federal budget queue for years. They are also cleaning up the language throughout the existing law, swapping out phrases like “donation of a property” for the simpler term “donation” and adding the ability to “alter” or “maintain” things, not just design them, which just makes the whole process cleaner and less bureaucratic.

Why This Matters on the Ground

For the average person, this bill won't change your commute, but it could dramatically affect the quality of care for veterans. Imagine a VA clinic in a smaller town that desperately needs a new parking lot or a specialized therapy room. Under the previous rules, getting that done might have required a massive federal appropriation. Now, a local construction company or a wealthy donor can step in and fund that "minor construction project" directly under the VA’s acceptance authority. This allows the VA to acquire necessary infrastructure and maintenance projects at no direct cost to taxpayers, freeing up federal dollars for direct patient care instead. The only real challenge is ensuring that any donated project doesn’t come with hidden liabilities—like a facility that costs a fortune to run—but since the bill focuses on minor construction and nonrecurring maintenance, the risk seems relatively low.