The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced in December a major boost to the nation’s veterans cemetery system through more than $77 million in funding for construction, expansion, and improvements across 20 states. The initiative also marks the establishment of Alaska’s first state veterans cemetery.
This funding represents part of a broader national effort to provide timely and respectful burial services to American veterans and their families. According to the VA, nearly one-quarter of all annual veterans interments take place in cemeteries supported by these grants.
Expansion Projects Span 20 States, with Alaska to Open Its First Veterans Cemetery
According to the VA’s December 30 press release, the grants will fund a wide range of projects, including cemetery expansions, burial infrastructure, and reimbursement for construction materials like pre-placed crypts and outer burial receptacles. A notable portion ($16.7 million) is going to Alaska to build the Interior Alaska Veterans Cemetery in Fairbanks, the state’s first, which is expected to serve more than 12,000 veterans and family members.
Texas received one of the largest awards, totaling $12.8 million, to expand the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery, which serves over 221,000 eligible individuals. In addition, the VA will reimburse the state nearly $3.7 million for burial receptacles used during the expansion. Virginia was also a major recipient, with nearly $8.3 million allocated for the Albert G. Horton Jr. Memorial Veterans Cemetery, along with a $5.8 million reimbursement for burial materials.
Projects in North Carolina cover three locations (Sandhills, Eastern Carolina, and Coastal Carolina cemeteries) with funding surpassing $4.8 million. The Sandhills site alone received $3.4 million for expansion, in addition to nearly $1.9 million in reimbursement costs. Other states receiving significant support include Wisconsin, Arizona, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and Arkansas.
Since the cemetery grant program began in 1980, the VA has distributed more than $1.1 billion in funding to support the development and upkeep of 124 cemeteries across 47 states, 14 tribal nations, and three U.S. territories. These facilities operate in tandem with the VA’s 157 national cemeteries, together covering more than 94 percent of U.S. veterans within a 75-mile radius of a burial site, according to the VA.
Support Aims to Meet Growing Demand and Preserve Memorial Standards
In fiscal year 2025 alone, more than 43,705 interments were carried out in cemeteries funded through VA grants. That figure represents roughly one-quarter of the 174,705 annual interments taking place across the broader VA cemetery system. The VA noted that with ongoing demand, this new funding allows states to plan proactively and avoid delays in expanding burial access for eligible veterans and their families.
These grants underscore the VA’s “commitment to ensuring America’s veterans cemeteries have the resources they need,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, adding that such sites play a central role in honoring the service of U.S. military personnel. According to the VA, the grants support construction of vital cemetery components, including crypts, columbaria, and other necessary infrastructure. This not only allows for continued operations but ensures that memorial services meet federal standards.
Several state cemeteries benefiting from these funds are also integrated with the VA’s Veterans Legacy Memorial platform, a digital initiative that allows families to post tributes, upload photos, and share stories of the veterans interred there. This integration reflects a broader mission of the agency: not only to provide burial access, but also to preserve the memory of service members for future generations.
The new grants are expected to streamline ongoing operations and relieve states of significant construction costs that might otherwise impede expansion. In regions like Alaska, where no state cemetery has existed before, the funding marks a significant step toward equitable access to burial benefits nationwide.
