A new agreement between the Department of Justice and Veterans Affairs aims to help certain veterans, some whom are homeless, by establishing legal guardianships for those who cannot care for themselves, though the move has drawn concern from veterans’ advocates nationwide.
The move by the Trump administration was announced on Wednesday, authorizing the DOJ to appoint VA attorneys as special assistant U.S. attorneys. This would enable them to then start a process in state courts that would appoint non-VA legal guardians and oversee conservatorships for approximately 700 veterans, including the ability to commit them to involuntary hospitals for mental or physical health reasons. Some, but not all, of the veterans are homeless.
