VA Ends Leases on West LA Land, Brentwood School's Athletics Facilities in Limbo

The Department of Veterans Affairs has terminated agreements allowing three entities, including a prestigious K-12 academy, to use parts of its West Los Angeles campus.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has ended leases with Brentwood School, a parking lot firm, and an oil pumping operation on its 388-acre West Los Angeles property. The VA cited President Trump's executive order to create a National Center for Warrior Independence with housing for 6,000 veterans as the reason for the terminations. The move throws the future of Brentwood School's extensive athletic facilities, which it built on a 22-acre leasehold, into uncertainty.

Why it matters

The lease terminations introduce tension between the VA's plans and a federal court order requiring the agency to build more than 2,000 housing units on the campus. While both initiatives aim to provide more veteran housing, the VA has signaled it intends to appeal the court ruling, raising concerns about its commitment to working collaboratively with the court and veterans' representatives.

The details

The VA posted a notice saying it had ended leases to Brentwood School, a parking lot firm, and an oil pumping operation. The agency said it was taking the property to fulfill President Trump's executive order for a National Center for Warrior Independence with housing for 6,000 veterans. The notice did not address whether Brentwood School would lose access to the extensive athletic facilities it built on its 22-acre leasehold, which include a football/soccer stadium, baseball field, basketball pavilion, exercise equipment, and a 10-lane swimming pool.

  • The VA posted the notice terminating the leases on Monday, February 10, 2026.
  • Brentwood School's use of the athletic facilities continued as normal on Tuesday, February 11, 2026.

The players

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

The federal agency that manages veterans' healthcare and benefits, and oversees the West Los Angeles campus.

Brentwood School

A prestigious K-12 academy that had leased 22 acres of the VA's West Los Angeles campus and built extensive athletic facilities there.

President Donald Trump

The former U.S. president who issued an executive order calling for the creation of a National Center for Warrior Independence with housing for 6,000 veterans on the VA's West Los Angeles property.

U.S. District Judge David O. Carter

The federal judge overseeing a class-action lawsuit related to the use of the VA's West Los Angeles campus, who has taken a conciliatory stance toward Brentwood School's use of the athletic facilities.

Rob Reynolds

An Iraq war veteran who often speaks on behalf of the named veterans in the class-action lawsuit against the VA.

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What they’re saying

“We look forward to that meeting with hopes of preserving our longstanding relationship and the extensive services Brentwood School provides that so many Veterans value.”

— Brentwood School (latimes.com)

“What I'm attempting to convey is positivity and optimism. Time will tell.”

— Roman Silberfeld, Attorney, Robins Kaplan (latimes.com)

“A day of incalculable shame on our government. No prior Administration ended veteran homelessness, but none before has sunk so low by arguing to an entire appellate bench that the law must preserve it.”

— Mark Rosenbaum, Attorney, Public Counsel (latimes.com)

“We really don't know what's going on. The history of this property for decades has been broken promises, so it's really hard to trust that this will be done in good faith.”

— Rob Reynolds, Iraq war veteran (latimes.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide whether to allow Brentwood School to continue using the athletic facilities on the VA's West Los Angeles campus.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between the VA's plans for the West Los Angeles campus, a federal court order to build more veteran housing, and the needs of community stakeholders like Brentwood School. It raises questions about the VA's commitment to transparency, collaboration, and truly serving the best interests of veterans.