MANCHESTER, N.H. — An executive order signed by President Donald Trump could change the health care available to veterans in New Hampshire. The order instructs that the Manchester VA Medical Center be upgraded to the state’s only full-service VA Hospital.

“The question is, can we, on its current footprint, expand it into a full-service hospital, and continue to modernize the facility to meet the needs of veterans, or do we need a new site,” said U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas.

“The executive order directs a feasibility study, which I’m all for taking a hard look at this,” said U.S. Rep. Maggie Goodlander.

Jim Adams, the chairman of New Hampshire’s Veterans Affairs, said he welcomes any support and funding from the president, but the move is not what he had in mind.

“I just believe that the money is much better spent, if we could use that money for the additional, better and outstanding care,” Adams said.

He said medical resources for veterans in New Hampshire were limited even when the state had a full-service hospital.

“It wasn’t that good. And they had such a metamorphosis. They’ve come around. They are now one of the best around,” he said.

Veterans said that in the past decade, the Manchester VA Medical Center has improved.

“We hear from other places throughout the country that VA services are particularly bad in places. We don’t hear that so much here in New Hampshire, even though it’s not a full-service hospital,” said one veteran.

Community care clinics have been developed across rural parts of the state to help provide more accessible care.

Adams said he would prefer that funding be used to support and enhance what already exists.

“The brick-and-mortar is not what takes care of our veterans. It’s the men and women who work in Manchester, VA. They’re the sinew that holds us all together. And they always put the veterans first,” he said.