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Veterans Affairs highlights homes, workforce 'BOOT' program and recruitment efforts
Summary
Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs and its 'BOOT' workforce program reported a focus on recruiting and retaining veterans, operating five veterans homes and five cemeteries, and early results from a new initiative that has placed and engaged dozens of veterans in Louisiana jobs and training pathways.
Mark Barnes of Senate fiscal services gave an overview of the Department of Veterans Affairs’ FY26 recommended budget and program responsibilities, and Department leaders described efforts to improve veteran services and to recruit veterans back to Louisiana through a program called BOOT.
Barnes told the committee the department’s FY26 recommended budget totaled roughly $102.2 million (federal funds about 66%; state general fund about 17%; fees and self‑generated revenues about 15%). The department operates five veterans homes around the state, five state veterans cemeteries, and provides benefit‑assistance services to roughly 261,790 veterans statewide, the presentation said. Personal services represent the largest line in the department budget, driven by staffing needs at the homes and long‑term care operations.
The department’s secretary (identified in the hearing as “the secretary for the LDVA”) highlighted the economic case for supporting veterans: the secretary said veterans bring economic activity to parishes and described the state’s stronger benefits and licensing provisions to encourage veterans to live in Louisiana. He said the administration’s objective is “to continue to make Louisiana the best state for veterans to live in.”
Ben Armstrong, who represents the BOOT program, provided an update on a workforce initiative funded by the legislature to recruit, retain and return military talent to Louisiana. Armstrong said BOOT is about six months into operations, has a staff in multiple regions and contact points at major military installations, and reported early results: 66 veterans have been placed or retained in Louisiana jobs or training tracks and 112 individuals were in active engagement with the program. He said BOOT has secured a $300,000 grant to train industrial welders and is partnering with employers and national nonprofits to place veterans into careers.
Committee members asked the department for additional information on staffing, OTS interagency transfers (the committee is collecting OTS line items across agencies for a follow‑up hearing), vacancy levels and salary comparators. Department officials said they would provide follow‑up materials and that they are continuing efforts to raise workforce compensation in critical positions (for example, nurse aides and counselors) to reduce turnover and increase capacity at veterans homes.
No formal action was taken; the committee asked for further documentation on OTS charges, vacancy breakdowns and an update on BOOT outcomes.
