Edward: Welcome to the MIL News Weekly for 16-22 November 2025, your essential
guide to the latest news impacting the military and veteran community.
Whether you're currently serving in uniform, a military retiree, a veteran,
or a family member, this is your source for the critical updates you need to know.
Each week, we cut through the noise to bring you the most important developments
from the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Weâll cover everything from new policies and pay raises affecting
active and reserve forces, to changes in healthcare and benefits for
retirees, and the latest on VA services and legislation for our veterans.
Let's get you informed.
Hereâs whatâs happened this past week.
Issues That Affect Active and Reserve Military Personnel
The Aftermath of the Government Shutdown: Pay and Personnel Status
The immediate aftermath of the federal government reopening dominated
the operational conversation for active and reserve personnel.
The week began with the armed forces navigating the administrative
thaw following the appropriations lapse that had threatened to cause
a major financial catastrophe.
The nationâs uniformed service members narrowly avoided an unprecedented
failure of financial continuity.
Analysis of the budgetary constraints during the shutdown period revealed
that 14 November 2025 would have marked the first occasion in
history that members of all military branches risked missing a paycheck.
This fiscal peril endangered approximately 1.3
million active-duty personnel and more than 750,000 National
Guard and reserve personnel.
Earlier payments made through October 31 were only achieved through
the necessary, yet complicated, reallocation of other funding streams.
The mechanism of relying on ad-hoc funding rather than secure mandatory
appropriations demonstrates that operational and personnel readiness
is fundamentally vulnerable to political budget impasses.
The fact that the financial infrastructure for military pay required these emergency
measures exposes a systemic risk that continuous appropriations instability
erodes the long-term readiness of the force by diverting essential financial
bandwidth away from routine management toward perpetual crisis mitigation.
The end of the shutdown, which occurred on 12 November 2025 , allowed furloughed
federal employeesâa critical component of the Total Force, including DoD
civilians and techniciansâto begin returning to work on 13 November 2025.
These employees were guaranteed retroactive pay for the time they
were furloughed, a measure mandated by the Government Employee Fair
Treatment Act of 2019 (GEFTA).
Crucially for military families, the administrative freeze on
personnel actions began to lift.
Personnel offices, including S1s, MPFs, and transition offices, were directed
to prioritize updating separation timelines for service members who had been
involuntarily extended during the lapse.
Similarly, Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders and travel arrangements
that were frozen or delayed must now work through a substantial backlog.
The delay of critical life milestones, such as separations and moves,
directly contributes to morale and logistical stress, illustrating that
administrative efficiency is a direct component of military effectiveness.
Sweeping Department of War Policy Overhaul
The week was marked by the announcement of significant and potentially
culture-altering policy directives by Secretary Hegseth, signaling a major
institutional re-engineering effort aimed at sharpening the force's focus.
These directives are comprehensive, affecting nearly every aspect of
soldier life and command oversight.
A primary goal of the new guidance is the reduction of administrative
burdens that detract from core warfighting capabilities.
This includes the directive for the "Reduction of Mandatory Training
Requirements to Restore Mission Focus".
This acknowledgement suggests a high-level recognition that non-mission-essential
training requirements had grown disproportionately large, negatively
impacting the time service members could dedicate to core combat skills.
Specific policy reforms targeting personnel management and
discipline were also announced.
These include the implementation of new "Grooming Standards for Facial Hair
Implementation" , a change likely to affect daily life and unit appearance
standards across the branches.
Furthermore, changes were mandated in internal justice and retention mechanisms,
such as the implementation of an "Adverse Information Policy," revisions
to the "Policy Memorandum Revision - Special Selection Review Boards,"
and a fundamental "Review of Hazing, Bullying, and Harassment Definitions".
These changes signal a commitment to improving fairness and due
process in career progression and conduct adjudication.
The success of these rapid cultural and administrative shifts, particularly
the implementation of the new military education standards, will
depend heavily on the clear and decisive guidance resulting from the
mandated 60-Day Review of Military Education and Training Standards.
Legislative Framework: The FY2025 NDAA (S.
4638)
The policy and funding goals for the military were further contextualized
by legislative activity in Congress.
A legislative recap on 21 November 2025 highlighted the continued movement of S.
4638, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025.
Although the bill text available is a committee report version from
July 2024, its structural components illustrate the foundation of personnel
policy for the future fiscal year.
Title IV of the NDAA addresses crucial manpower mandates, setting the authorized
End Strengths for the Active forces (Sec.
401) and the Reserve forces (Sec.
411, Selected Reserve).
These sections determine the size and deployment capacity of the U.S.
military.
Title V further addresses internal management, including detailed policies
on officer personnel, talent management, and personnel retention strategies (Sec.
502).
Crucially, the NDAA includes provisions that reinforce the stability and
incentives for the federal civilian workforce, particularly those who are
also members of the Reserve component.
The legislation authorizes an increase in military leave accrual
and accumulation for federal employees performing military reserve duty.
This provision directly supports military readiness by mitigating the
strain placed on reservists who must juggle federal employment with their
drilling and training obligations.
Additionally, the NDAA ensures the continued operability of the Defense
Departmentâs global footprint by extending the authority to waive the
annual limitation on premium pay for certain Federal civilian employees
working overseas or in combat zones through calendar year 2025.
By incorporating these pay and leave flexibilities, Congress has protected
these mandatory measures from the annual appropriations volatility,
recognizing the indispensable nature of the civilian support apparatus.
Issues That Affect Retired Military Personnel
The most pivotal financial news for the retired military community during this
period was the official confirmation of the Cost of Living Adjustment for 2026.
This announcement provided crucial financial stability after a volatile
period of government funding uncertainty.
The 2026 COLA was finalized at 2.8%.
This rate, determined by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), is legislatively
mandated to ensure that retired pay maintains its purchasing power
against inflationary pressures.
This adjustment will take effect in January 2026 and applies
to all military retired pay.
This certainty serves as a necessary buffer against economic
volatility for retired households.
The practical effect of the 2.8%
COLA is immediately evident in the monthly financial outlook for retirees.
For instance, a military retiree who receives $2,500 in monthly
retired pay will see an increase of approximately $70 per month.
This rate is slightly higher than the 2025 COLA, which was 2.5%,
providing slightly greater economic relief.
It is noteworthy that the official announcement of this COLA rate
was delayed by nine days due to the preceding government shutdown.
This delay, despite the mandatory nature of the funding, shows that political
gridlock can still impact the timing of financial news for benefit recipients.
Furthermore, the COLA applies to all auxiliary benefits
tied to military retirement.
Survivors receiving benefits under the Survivor Benefit Plan
(SBP) will receive the same 2.8%
increase in their monthly payments.
For those service members retiring in 2025, the 2026 COLA will be prorated based
on the specific quarter of the year in which their retirement became effective.
Social Security officials, who determine the rate that military COLA follows,
will begin the process of notifying individuals of their new benefit amounts
via mail starting in early December.
TRICARE Open Season: Decisions for 2026 Coverage
The Defense Health Agency reminded beneficiaries about the ongoing
TRICARE Open Season, the annual opportunity for many military families
and retirees to adjust their health care coverage for the coming year.
TRICARE Open Season began on 10 November 2025 and concludes on 09 December 2025.
Any changes made during this window will become effective on 01 January 2026.
This applies specifically to beneficiaries eligible for TRICARE Prime or TRICARE
Select, allowing them to evaluate their choices and make changes based
on their family's health care needs.
This annual period represents a critical administrative imperative
for the non-Medicare eligible retired population, forcing an active review of
complex health care choices to ensure optimal cost efficiency and access.
It is essential for retirees to remember that Open Season
does not apply universally.
Active duty service members must remain on TRICARE Prime and cannot
change their plan during this time.
More critically for the large segment of the retired population,
Open Season does not apply to those with TRICARE For Life (TFL).
TFL eligibility is automatic once a retiree is Medicare-eligible and enrolled
in both Medicare Part A and Part B.
Similarly, beneficiaries in premium-based plans such as TRICARE Reserve Select or
TRICARE Retired Reserve are excluded from the annual open season enrollment process.
Legislative Oversight via H.R.
5371
The financial security enjoyed by retired service members,
particularly in light of the recent shutdown, is buttressed by essential
legislative language in continuing appropriations acts, such as H.R.
5371 (119th Congress).
This legislation ensured that mandatory payments continued at current levels
during the appropriations lapse.
Specifically, H.R.
5371 mandates that entitlements and other mandatory payments, whose
budget authority was provided in an appropriations Act, shall be continued
at the rate necessary to maintain program levels under current law.
This mechanism serves as a critical financial shield, protecting military
retired pay from disruption even during periods of extreme legislative
disagreement over funding the government.
Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs
Resilience of VA Disability Benefits and Resumption of Services
For the disabled veteran community, the end of the government shutdown
brought relief and the resumption of essential support services,
while confirming the fundamental security of core benefit payments.
A critical point of assurance for veterans during the entire period of
volatility was the confirmed stability of VA disability compensation payments.
These tax-free monthly benefits were not interrupted by the government shutdown
because they fall under mandatory funding, which must continue to be
approved due to prior legal commitments.
This legislative design ensures that the veteran communityâs primary
source of income is protected against political gridlock.
However, the mandatory funding status applies only to the direct
payments themselves, leaving many supporting services vulnerable.
With the government fully reopening, veterans could expect
the immediate resumption of vital discretionary services that had
been halted or severely curtailed.
These included VA outreach programs, the full staffing of public-facing
regional offices, career counseling, transition assistance, and the
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) Education Call Center.
The operational reality here is that while mandatory funding protects
the veteranâs income, discretionary funding protects the essential quality
of life and access to care services.
The immediate normalization of these services is crucial to prevent vulnerable
veterans from slipping into crises, such as unemployment or housing insecurity,
that the VA is mandated to address.
2026 COLA for Disability Compensation and Related Benefits
Consistent with retired military pay, veterans receiving disability compensation
and related benefits also received official confirmation of the 2026 COLA.
The 2.8%
Cost of Living Adjustment for 2026 applies directly to VA disability compensation,
the clothing allowance, and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC).
The 2024 legislation passed by Congress, which ties these benefit
increases to the Social Security COLA rate, guarantees the predictability
and delivery of this adjustment.
This mechanism ensures that the tax-free monthly benefit, which
varies significantly depending on the service-connected disability rating,
continues to keep pace with inflation.
To illustrate the financial impact, a veteran who receives $1,500
per month in benefits will see an increase of about $42 in their monthly
payment starting in January 2026.
For many service-disabled veterans whose disability compensation represents their
sole or primary source of income, this increase is an essential inflation buffer.
VA Claims Backlog Status: A Persistent Challenge
Despite the focus on returning to normalized operations, the Veterans
Benefits Administration continues to face a significant structural
hurdle: the claims backlog.
Data updated on 17 November 2025 provided a current measure of this
persistent administrative challenge.
As of that date, the VBA reported a total claims backlog of 198,378 claims.
The backlog is specifically defined as rating bundle disability compensation and
pension claims that have been received by the VA and have been pending for more than
125 days, thus requiring development and a rating decision by a VA claims processor.
This inventory includes initial and supplemental claims for service-connected
disabilities, Agent Orange-related claims, and standard pension claims
for veterans and their survivors.
Importantly, this total figure tracks initial decision requests and does not
include claims that have been appealed by veterans after a benefits decision,
which are tracked in a separate inventory.
The sustained high volume of the backlog immediately following the
shutdown demonstrates that the difficulty in timely claims processing
is a structural impediment related to procedural complexity, technology
integration, or staffing levels, rather than a problem solely attributable
to short-term funding lapses.
Therefore, future legislative efforts must focus not only on guaranteeing
benefit payments but also on sustained, mandated modernization efforts within
the VBA to reduce waiting times for veterans seeking compensation.
Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Public Health and Research
The Veterans Health Administration continued to highlight its commitment
to modern and preventative care models throughout the week.
The VHA emphasized the "Whole Health" initiative, which leverages resources
such as Tele Whole Health and digital VA tools to ensure veterans are placed
at the center of their care decisions.
In preventative health, the VHA issued targeted communications promoting
crucial services, specifically urging veterans to utilize lung cancer
screening resources, noting that early detection can dramatically
improve outcomes and save lives.
Furthermore, VA research findings, released on 22 November 2025,
showcased the VHAâs ongoing leadership in medical innovation.
The research wrap-up detailed new findings on brain-computer interfaces, advanced
cancer treatment protocols, and the expansion of age-friendly care practices.
This dedication to high-tech and specialized research demonstrates
the VHAâs forward-looking strategy necessary to address the complex and
evolving health needs of the modern veteran population, particularly
those dealing with traumatic injuries and service-related toxic exposures.
Legislative Mandates and Conclusion
The legislative efforts tracked during the week of 16 November 2025
through 22 November 2025 highlighted two crucial mechanisms maintaining
the stability of the federal military and veteran communities.
Referenced Bills in Congress and Their Effects
1.
S.
4638 (118th): National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025
This legislation contains provisions that directly support the civilian
component of the Department of Defense.
It increases military leave accrual and accumulation for Federal
employees who perform military reserve duty , thus reducing
administrative burden for reservists.
Furthermore, it extends the authority to waive the annual limitation on
premium pay for certain Federal civilian employees working overseas or in combat
zones through calendar year 2025.
For active and reserve military personnel, the bill sets authorized
end strengths and dictates policy on talent management and retention.
2.
H.R.
5371 (119th): Continuing Appropriations and Emergency Measures
This measure contains language that provides essential financial security
during appropriations disputes.
It ensures that budget authority for entitlements and other mandatory
payments, including military retired pay and veterans disability compensation,
continues at the rate necessary to maintain current program levels.
This protects both retired employees and disabled veterans from the
financial instability caused by government funding lapses.
The bill also includes extensions of various expiring authorities
related to veterans benefits.
And that's your weekly briefing.
Staying on top of these changes is key to navigating your career,
your retirement, and your benefits.
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Weâll be back next week with another roundup of the news that matters most
to the military and veteran community.