Inside the VA’s Bold Plan to Modernize National Cemeteries — and Why Only 18% of Veterans Use Them
Inside the VA’s Bold Plan to Modernize National Cemeteries — and Why Only 18% of Veterans Use Them  
Podcast: Fed Gov Today
Published On: Tue May 26 2026
Description: VA Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs Sam Brown joins the program to discuss how the National Cemetery Administration is transforming the veteran and family experience through modernization, outreach, and collaboration. Brown explains why customer experience is central to NCA’s mission, the surprising reality that only 18% of eligible veterans choose national cemeteries, and how the VA is working to increase awareness of burial benefits. He also reveals a major modernization effort with Arlington National Cemetery to replace decades-old systems with a shared platform designed to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and better serve veterans and their families for generations to come.