WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.029 --> 00:00:05.039 Edward: Welcome to the MIL News Weekly for 13 - 19 July 2025, your essential 00:00:05.039 --> 00:00:08.539 guide to the latest news impacting the military and veteran community. 00:00:09.050 --> 00:00:12.760 Whether you're currently serving in uniform, a military retiree, a veteran, 00:00:12.829 --> 00:00:16.860 or a family member, this is your source for the critical updates you need to know. 00:00:17.242 --> 00:00:20.772 Each week, we cut through the noise to bring you the most important developments 00:00:20.772 --> 00:00:24.022 from the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. 00:00:24.432 --> 00:00:27.692 We’ll cover everything from new policies and pay raises affecting 00:00:27.692 --> 00:00:31.222 active and reserve forces, to changes in healthcare and benefits for 00:00:31.222 --> 00:00:35.592 retirees, and the latest on VA services and legislation for our veterans. 00:00:35.962 --> 00:00:36.872 Let's get you informed. 00:00:37.262 --> 00:00:38.682 Here’s what’s happened this past week. 00:00:39.009 --> 00:00:41.559 Issues That Affect Active and Reserve Military 00:00:41.845 --> 00:00:44.505 Congress Moves on Landmark Defense Bills, Shaping Pay, 00:00:44.505 --> 00:00:46.155 Healthcare, and Quality of Life 00:00:46.423 --> 00:00:50.323 This week marked a critical legislative period on Capitol Hill, as House and 00:00:50.323 --> 00:00:54.093 Senate committees advanced versions of the Fiscal Year 2026 National 00:00:54.093 --> 00:00:59.153 Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and its associated appropriations bills. 00:00:59.723 --> 00:01:03.533 These massive legislative packages set the policy and budget for the entire 00:01:03.533 --> 00:01:07.503 Department of Defense, dictating everything from troop pay and benefits to 00:01:07.503 --> 00:01:09.433 the procurement of major weapons systems. 00:01:09.766 --> 00:01:13.106 The primary legislative vehicles are the Senate's NDAA, with 00:01:13.106 --> 00:01:14.826 provisions from last session's S. 00:01:14.826 --> 00:01:19.676 4638 being debated, and the House's "Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement 00:01:19.716 --> 00:01:23.636 and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025," H.R. 00:01:23.636 --> 00:01:24.496 5009. 00:01:24.866 --> 00:01:28.516 A central feature of both proposals is a significant investment in personnel. 00:01:28.756 --> 00:01:30.886 A general pay raise of 3.8% 00:01:30.886 --> 00:01:32.646 is on the table for most service members. 00:01:32.879 --> 00:01:36.229 Family support and healthcare are also major focus areas. 00:01:36.639 --> 00:01:41.309 The proposed NDAA legislation includes provisions to improve the portability 00:01:41.309 --> 00:01:46.019 of professional licenses for military spouses, a crucial step to ease the career 00:01:46.019 --> 00:01:48.499 disruption caused by frequent relocations. 00:01:49.179 --> 00:01:50.589 On the healthcare front, S. 00:01:50.589 --> 00:01:55.469 4638 would expand TRICARE Select eligibility for hearing aids to include 00:01:55.469 --> 00:01:58.129 children of retired members, while H.R. 00:01:58.129 --> 00:02:02.569 5009 proposes a demonstration program for the cryopreservation 00:02:02.569 --> 00:02:03.969 and storage of gametes. 00:02:04.339 --> 00:02:08.569 Both bills mandate assessments on covering assisted reproductive technology 00:02:08.889 --> 00:02:12.769 (ART), signaling a growing recognition of the importance of family-building 00:02:12.769 --> 00:02:14.099 support for service members. 00:02:14.437 --> 00:02:17.707 However, these financial and quality-of-life improvements 00:02:17.757 --> 00:02:21.347 are being legislated alongside controversial social policies. 00:02:21.947 --> 00:02:26.307 The Senate's NDAA text includes a restriction on sex-change surgeries, 00:02:26.707 --> 00:02:29.937 while the House version prohibits TRICARE from covering certain 00:02:29.937 --> 00:02:33.207 medical procedures for children that could result in sterilization. 00:02:33.717 --> 00:02:38.117 This coincides with a PBS News report on July 19 highlighting the ongoing 00:02:38.117 --> 00:02:42.097 fight by transgender service members to continue their careers in the face 00:02:42.097 --> 00:02:43.797 of the Trump administration's ban. 00:02:44.327 --> 00:02:47.277 This creates a fundamental tension within the legislation. 00:02:47.847 --> 00:02:51.457 The Pentagon is attempting to solve its recruitment and retention crisis 00:02:51.547 --> 00:02:55.937 with significant financial incentives, yet the simultaneous codification of 00:02:55.937 --> 00:03:00.647 these restrictive social policies may alienate or disqualify a segment of 00:03:00.647 --> 00:03:04.847 potential recruits and current personnel, potentially undermining the very goals 00:03:04.847 --> 00:03:06.587 the pay raises are meant to achieve. 00:03:06.970 --> 00:03:10.000 Funding for these initiatives is being hammered out in appropriations 00:03:10.000 --> 00:03:14.030 bills, including the FY2026 Military Construction and Veterans 00:03:14.030 --> 00:03:16.230 Affairs Appropriations Act, H.R. 00:03:16.230 --> 00:03:17.260 3944. 00:03:17.690 --> 00:03:21.020 Separately, the House demonstrated ongoing commitment to foreign 00:03:21.020 --> 00:03:23.100 policy objectives by passing H.R. 00:03:23.100 --> 00:03:28.660 4016 with a decisive 353-76 vote to extend military aid to Ukraine. 00:03:29.029 --> 00:03:31.909 Two other bills under consideration provide further insight into 00:03:31.909 --> 00:03:33.169 congressional priorities. 00:03:33.639 --> 00:03:37.439 The Protecting Military Installations and Ranges Act of 2025 (S. 00:03:37.439 --> 00:03:41.809 197) would mandate national security reviews of land purchases near military 00:03:41.809 --> 00:03:46.379 facilities by entities linked to China, Russia, Iran, or North Korea, 00:03:46.629 --> 00:03:48.269 aiming to bolster base security. 00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:50.959 Meanwhile, the Pay Our Military Act of 2025 (S. 00:03:50.959 --> 00:03:56.059 876) seeks to provide financial stability by ensuring service members 00:03:56.059 --> 00:04:00.069 and essential civilian personnel are paid during any future government shutdown. 00:04:00.402 --> 00:04:03.392 National Security Frontline: Major Cyberattack on National 00:04:03.392 --> 00:04:04.732 Guard and Global Tensions 00:04:04.994 --> 00:04:08.264 While lawmakers debated budgets, a stark reminder of the threats 00:04:08.264 --> 00:04:09.584 facing the nation emerged. 00:04:09.994 --> 00:04:13.444 A leaked Department of Homeland Security memo confirmed a massive and 00:04:13.444 --> 00:04:15.534 prolonged cyber intrusion of a U.S. 00:04:15.534 --> 00:04:18.874 Army National Guard network by a China-associated threat 00:04:18.904 --> 00:04:20.954 actor dubbed "Salt Typhoon". 00:04:21.524 --> 00:04:25.084 The breach, which was active for nine months throughout 2024 00:04:25.084 --> 00:04:28.674 without being detected, was far more than simple espionage. 00:04:29.264 --> 00:04:32.794 The hackers successfully exfiltrated administrative credentials, 00:04:32.854 --> 00:04:36.504 internal network diagrams, and over fourteen hundred configuration 00:04:36.504 --> 00:04:38.374 files related to 70 U.S. 00:04:38.374 --> 00:04:40.734 government and critical infrastructure entities. 00:04:41.124 --> 00:04:42.364 The implications are severe. 00:04:42.674 --> 00:04:46.074 The attackers were strategically mapping critical infrastructure at scale, 00:04:46.264 --> 00:04:50.244 creating persistent access and potential pathways for future disruptive attacks 00:04:50.244 --> 00:04:54.484 against other state Guard units, defense contractors, and even federal systems. 00:04:55.014 --> 00:04:57.994 The fact that such a comprehensive intrusion went unnoticed for 00:04:57.994 --> 00:05:02.214 three-quarters of a year within a military network reveals a troubling gap 00:05:02.214 --> 00:05:04.284 in the nation's defensive cyber posture. 00:05:04.724 --> 00:05:09.024 This strategic failure is compounded by a notable disparity in the proposed 00:05:09.024 --> 00:05:13.934 defense budget: $1 billion is allocated for offensive cyber operations in 00:05:13.934 --> 00:05:19.004 the Indo-Pacific, while civilian defensive agencies are facing $1.23 00:05:19.004 --> 00:05:20.394 billion in cuts. 00:05:21.084 --> 00:05:25.244 This suggests a focus on projecting power abroad while the digital homeland 00:05:25.244 --> 00:05:29.004 remains dangerously porous, creating a critical vulnerability that could 00:05:29.034 --> 00:05:31.004 undermine national security from within. 00:05:31.428 --> 00:05:34.708 This cyber threat exists within a tense global environment. 00:05:35.058 --> 00:05:35.508 The U.S. 00:05:35.508 --> 00:05:39.318 continues to place troops on high alert over the Russia-Ukraine conflict and 00:05:39.318 --> 00:05:44.098 has prioritized sending Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, even delaying 00:05:44.098 --> 00:05:46.078 deliveries to allies like Switzerland. 00:05:46.608 --> 00:05:50.288 In the Pacific, Taiwan conducted its annual Han Kuang military 00:05:50.288 --> 00:05:53.788 exercises, simulating a war of attrition and highlighting the 00:05:53.788 --> 00:05:55.358 persistent threat in that region. 00:05:55.723 --> 00:05:59.783 Boots on the Ground at Home: Domestic Deployments Spark Legal and Moral Debate 00:06:00.257 --> 00:06:03.387 The use of military personnel within the United States continues to be 00:06:03.387 --> 00:06:04.907 a point of significant friction. 00:06:05.357 --> 00:06:08.867 This week, the Pentagon announced the end of a controversial 60-day 00:06:08.867 --> 00:06:12.177 deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles. 00:06:12.657 --> 00:06:15.087 The troops were sent to address protests related to the 00:06:15.087 --> 00:06:18.437 administration's immigration policies, a move that California's 00:06:18.437 --> 00:06:19.867 governor had legally challenged. 00:06:20.243 --> 00:06:23.043 This event is part of a broader pattern that is raising alarm 00:06:23.043 --> 00:06:24.813 among veterans and legal experts. 00:06:25.243 --> 00:06:28.293 The creation of new military zones along the U.S.-Mexico 00:06:28.293 --> 00:06:31.803 border in Arizona and New Mexico, where military personnel are 00:06:31.833 --> 00:06:35.153 authorized to detain migrants, has intensified the debate. 00:06:35.643 --> 00:06:38.573 On a press call, former service members, including a U.S. 00:06:38.573 --> 00:06:42.553 Army JAG Corps veteran, argued that these domestic operations likely 00:06:42.553 --> 00:06:46.813 violate the Posse Comitatus Act, a foundational law restricting the use of 00:06:46.813 --> 00:06:48.823 the military for civilian law enforcement. 00:06:49.278 --> 00:06:52.708 This trend toward the normalization of domestic military deployments 00:06:52.758 --> 00:06:55.148 has profound potential consequences. 00:06:55.648 --> 00:06:59.218 It risks eroding the trust between the American public and the military, 00:06:59.538 --> 00:07:03.648 politicizing a traditionally non-partisan institution, and placing service 00:07:03.648 --> 00:07:08.008 members in legally and morally ambiguous situations for which they are not trained. 00:07:08.558 --> 00:07:10.908 Furthermore, it diverts critical resources. 00:07:11.398 --> 00:07:15.878 The top military commander in Los Angeles had previously requested that some troops 00:07:15.878 --> 00:07:20.148 be returned to their primary mission of fighting wildfires, a clear example of 00:07:20.148 --> 00:07:24.508 how these domestic deployments can strain the National Guard's ability to perform 00:07:24.508 --> 00:07:26.268 its traditional state-level duties. 00:07:26.672 --> 00:07:29.042 Force Readiness: Training and Recruitment in Focus 00:07:29.412 --> 00:07:31.842 Despite these high-level challenges, the operational 00:07:31.842 --> 00:07:33.632 tempo for the force remains high. 00:07:34.122 --> 00:07:37.232 Throughout July, thousands of active-duty and reserve-component 00:07:37.232 --> 00:07:41.202 troops have been engaged in training at installations like Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. 00:07:41.652 --> 00:07:44.902 National Guard units across the country have been particularly active, 00:07:45.122 --> 00:07:49.392 conducting medical evacuation exercises in New York, live-fire training in 00:07:49.392 --> 00:07:53.542 Pennsylvania, assisting with firefighting efforts in Nevada, and responding to 00:07:53.542 --> 00:07:55.492 search and rescue missions in Oregon. 00:07:55.823 --> 00:07:58.143 On the recruitment front, there is positive news. 00:07:58.563 --> 00:08:02.673 After several years of significant shortfalls, all military services are 00:08:02.673 --> 00:08:06.633 reportedly on track to meet or exceed their recruiting goals for fiscal year 00:08:06.693 --> 00:08:10.983 2025, with the Army having reached its target four months ahead of schedule. 00:08:11.593 --> 00:08:15.333 To maintain this momentum, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has established 00:08:15.333 --> 00:08:16.763 a new Recruitment Task Force. 00:08:17.243 --> 00:08:21.003 The group is charged with streamlining the waiver process for minor medical 00:08:21.033 --> 00:08:25.003 or legal issues, which has been a major bottleneck, and leveraging technology 00:08:25.003 --> 00:08:28.983 like artificial intelligence to better identify and engage potential recruits. 00:08:29.306 --> 00:08:31.396 Issues That Affect Retired Military 00:08:31.658 --> 00:08:35.488 Navigating the Transition: Critical Steps for TRICARE and Benefits Enrollment 00:08:35.934 --> 00:08:39.814 For the thousands of service members retiring in 2025, the transition 00:08:39.814 --> 00:08:43.264 from active duty is a period fraught with administrative complexity. 00:08:43.674 --> 00:08:48.344 Ensuring a seamless continuation of earned benefits requires proactive engagement 00:08:48.544 --> 00:08:50.464 and a keen awareness of strict deadlines. 00:08:50.914 --> 00:08:53.804 Failure at any step can result in a temporary or even 00:08:53.804 --> 00:08:55.154 permanent loss of coverage. 00:08:55.465 --> 00:08:57.775 The most critical deadline involves healthcare. 00:08:58.195 --> 00:09:02.385 Upon retirement, service members have a 90-day window to enroll themselves and 00:09:02.385 --> 00:09:07.205 their families in a new TRICARE plan, such as TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select. 00:09:07.705 --> 00:09:10.735 Missing this window results in a gap in health coverage. 00:09:10.985 --> 00:09:15.145 While retroactive enrollment is possible for up to 12 months, it requires the 00:09:15.145 --> 00:09:19.225 retiree to pay all back-premiums from the retirement date, a potentially 00:09:19.225 --> 00:09:20.785 significant financial burden. 00:09:21.203 --> 00:09:25.613 The process is multi-faceted: retirees must first update their status in the 00:09:25.613 --> 00:09:30.213 Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS), obtain new retiree 00:09:30.213 --> 00:09:34.713 ID cards, research and select the appropriate health plan, and establish 00:09:34.713 --> 00:09:36.513 a method for paying monthly premiums. 00:09:36.903 --> 00:09:40.423 Experts strongly recommend setting up an allotment directly from military 00:09:40.423 --> 00:09:42.733 retirement pay to avoid missed payments. 00:09:42.990 --> 00:09:47.180 This administrative load is compounded by separate deadlines for other benefits. 00:09:47.550 --> 00:09:51.230 Active duty dental and vision coverage also terminates at retirement. 00:09:51.710 --> 00:09:55.990 To maintain this coverage, retirees must enroll in the Federal Employees Dental 00:09:55.990 --> 00:09:58.320 and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). 00:09:58.830 --> 00:10:02.240 This requires a separate action within a 60-day window 00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:03.620 following the retirement date. 00:10:04.220 --> 00:10:08.980 The system places a heavy burden on the individual to navigate multiple agencies, 00:10:09.160 --> 00:10:13.740 deadlines, and enrollment systems during what is already a major life change. 00:10:14.088 --> 00:10:17.638 DFAS and Financial Management: SBP and CRDP Updates 00:10:17.952 --> 00:10:21.142 The Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) has highlighted 00:10:21.142 --> 00:10:23.332 several key programs for retirees. 00:10:23.742 --> 00:10:28.072 A recent legislative amendment now allows retirees to direct Survivor Benefit Plan 00:10:28.232 --> 00:10:33.232 (SBP) annuity payments for a dependent child into a Special Needs Trust (SNT). 00:10:33.752 --> 00:10:37.162 This valuable financial planning tool can preserve the beneficiary's 00:10:37.162 --> 00:10:41.492 eligibility for other federal or state disability benefits, and DFAS 00:10:41.492 --> 00:10:44.652 has released a new checklist to guide families through the process. 00:10:45.103 --> 00:10:48.093 For retirees with service-connected disabilities, Concurrent 00:10:48.093 --> 00:10:52.453 Retirement and Disability Pay (CRDP) remains a vital benefit. 00:10:53.043 --> 00:10:58.013 This program allows eligible retirees with a VA disability rating of 50% or higher 00:10:58.303 --> 00:11:02.903 to receive both their military retired pay and their VA disability compensation, 00:11:03.383 --> 00:11:07.043 bypassing the standard requirement to waive retired pay dollar-for-dollar. 00:11:07.603 --> 00:11:10.993 For most who qualify, enrollment in CRDP is automatic. 00:11:11.365 --> 00:11:14.835 These tailored options, along with the complex choices within the 00:11:14.835 --> 00:11:18.805 Blended Retirement System (BRS) like the lump-sum payment option, 00:11:19.165 --> 00:11:22.995 represent a positive shift toward more personalized financial planning. 00:11:23.435 --> 00:11:26.865 However, this customization comes at the cost of simplicity. 00:11:27.295 --> 00:11:30.695 The downstream effect is a growing need for a high degree of financial 00:11:30.695 --> 00:11:32.945 literacy among retiring service members. 00:11:33.325 --> 00:11:37.505 The old one-size-fits-all retirement briefing is no longer sufficient, creating 00:11:37.505 --> 00:11:41.735 an unstated requirement for retirees to become sophisticated financial planners 00:11:41.955 --> 00:11:45.875 or seek professional advice, which introduces its own costs and barriers. 00:11:46.388 --> 00:11:48.228 Base Access and Administrative Alerts 00:11:48.563 --> 00:11:51.593 On the administrative front, the Department of Defense is continuing 00:11:51.593 --> 00:11:53.723 its transition to the NextGen ID card. 00:11:54.163 --> 00:11:58.683 Retirees still holding older ID cards with an "INDEF" (indefinite) expiration date 00:11:59.073 --> 00:12:03.603 are strongly encouraged to visit a RAPIDS ID Card Office to obtain a new card. 00:12:04.013 --> 00:12:07.913 While the old cards still grant base access for now, they will eventually be 00:12:07.913 --> 00:12:12.583 invalidated, and proactive replacement is the best way to avoid future issues. 00:12:13.083 --> 00:12:14.173 Additionally, the U.S. 00:12:14.173 --> 00:12:17.723 Coast Guard's Retiree Services Program announced that retirees 00:12:17.723 --> 00:12:22.153 must now actively opt-in to continue receiving a physical copy of its 00:12:22.153 --> 00:12:23.643 "The Long Blue Line" newsletter. 00:12:23.967 --> 00:12:25.877 Issues That Affect Veteran's Affairs 00:12:26.230 --> 00:12:29.930 The Department of Veterans Affairs is in the midst of a significant transformation 00:12:30.140 --> 00:12:33.030 that is causing apprehension among veterans and their advocates. 00:12:33.510 --> 00:12:38.300 The department confirmed plans to reduce its workforce by nearly 30,000 employees 00:12:38.510 --> 00:12:39.980 by the end of the current fiscal year. 00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:43.070 The VA states this will be achieved primarily through 00:12:43.070 --> 00:12:47.560 attrition, retirements, and hiring freezes, not large-scale layoffs. 00:12:47.867 --> 00:12:52.217 In response, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) expressed "cautious 00:12:52.287 --> 00:12:55.827 optimism" that the cuts could be made without degrading services 00:12:56.067 --> 00:13:00.007 but emphasized that transparency is critical, especially as the demand 00:13:00.007 --> 00:13:04.487 for VA care continues to rise due to an aging population and expanded 00:13:04.517 --> 00:13:06.727 eligibility under laws like the PACT Act. 00:13:07.020 --> 00:13:10.710 This announcement of workforce reduction is paired with a new internal policy 00:13:10.810 --> 00:13:12.260 that has drawn sharp criticism. 00:13:12.740 --> 00:13:15.750 An internal memo revealed a plan to strictly scrutinize 00:13:15.750 --> 00:13:18.630 remote work accommodations for employees with disabilities. 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:22.700 Under the new rule, any request for telework lasting more than eight 00:13:22.700 --> 00:13:26.100 weeks must be approved by a member of the Senior Executive Service. 00:13:26.540 --> 00:13:30.850 Furthermore, all existing long-term remote work arrangements are now subject to at 00:13:30.850 --> 00:13:35.020 least an annual review to assess their "appropriateness and effectiveness". 00:13:35.425 --> 00:13:39.865 The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the union representing 00:13:39.865 --> 00:13:44.665 the VA workforce, condemned the policy as an "outrageous" and "clear attempt to 00:13:44.665 --> 00:13:46.815 force disabled veterans out the door". 00:13:47.435 --> 00:13:51.515 The union highlighted the deep irony of the VA, one of the largest employers 00:13:51.515 --> 00:13:55.065 of disabled veterans in the country, implementing a policy that creates 00:13:55.095 --> 00:13:58.625 significant new bureaucratic hurdles for its own disabled employees. 00:13:58.960 --> 00:14:01.980 These simultaneous actions create a troubling paradox. 00:14:02.310 --> 00:14:05.550 The VA is publicly celebrating record-breaking efficiency, 00:14:05.710 --> 00:14:09.000 having processed over 2 million disability claims faster than 00:14:09.030 --> 00:14:11.220 ever before in fiscal year 2025. 00:14:11.730 --> 00:14:16.090 Yet, it is simultaneously planning to cut its workforce by 30,000 and 00:14:16.090 --> 00:14:19.760 implementing an internal policy that could drive out experienced 00:14:19.760 --> 00:14:23.830 employees with disabilities—the very people processing those claims. 00:14:24.410 --> 00:14:28.520 It is difficult to reconcile how service delivery can be maintained, let alone 00:14:28.520 --> 00:14:30.280 improved, under these conditions. 00:14:30.780 --> 00:14:34.840 The potential long-term result could be a "brain drain" of institutional 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:38.540 knowledge and a future decline in the quality of care and benefits 00:14:38.540 --> 00:14:42.650 delivery, directly harming the veterans the VA is sworn to serve. 00:14:42.945 --> 00:14:47.335 Your Earned Benefits: Key Updates on Compensation, Insurance, and Support 00:14:47.748 --> 00:14:51.598 Amid these policy shifts, there are several important updates on benefits. 00:14:52.088 --> 00:14:56.948 The VA's 2025 disability compensation rates will include a 2.5% 00:14:57.058 --> 00:14:59.488 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). 00:14:59.858 --> 00:15:04.398 For a veteran with a 90% disability rating and no dependents, this translates 00:15:04.398 --> 00:15:07.668 to a monthly payment of $2,297.96. 00:15:08.338 --> 00:15:11.038 A veteran with the same rating but with a dependent spouse and 00:15:11.038 --> 00:15:14.808 parent will receive $2,634.38. 00:15:15.518 --> 00:15:19.148 According to the VA payment schedule, benefits for the month of July will 00:15:19.148 --> 00:15:22.888 be paid on or around July 31, 2025. 00:15:23.301 --> 00:15:27.981 In other positive news, premiums for Veterans' Group Life Insurance (VGLI) 00:15:28.271 --> 00:15:31.231 will be reduced starting July 1, 2025. 00:15:31.841 --> 00:15:36.071 The discounts will range from 2% to 17%, with an average reduction 00:15:36.071 --> 00:15:39.681 of 11%, making this important coverage more affordable for veterans 00:15:39.681 --> 00:15:41.401 after they separate from service. 00:15:41.695 --> 00:15:45.115 The VA also announced it will propose a rule to extend eligibility 00:15:45.115 --> 00:15:48.305 for the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers. 00:15:48.775 --> 00:15:52.235 This would continue the program for "legacy" veterans—those 00:15:52.235 --> 00:15:57.745 injured on or before September 11, 2001—through September 30, 2028. 00:15:58.605 --> 00:16:02.015 While this extension is welcome news for those families, its temporary 00:16:02.015 --> 00:16:06.535 nature, combined with the rollback of remote work flexibilities, suggests 00:16:06.535 --> 00:16:10.605 that support systems expanded during the pandemic are now under review. 00:16:11.135 --> 00:16:15.015 This creates a climate of uncertainty for vulnerable veterans and families 00:16:15.245 --> 00:16:19.055 who have come to rely on these programs for their stability and well-being. 00:16:19.457 --> 00:16:21.517 Congressional Oversight and Veteran Initiatives 00:16:21.836 --> 00:16:24.066 Congress continues its oversight of the department. 00:16:24.606 --> 00:16:27.666 This week, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held hearings 00:16:27.666 --> 00:16:31.056 on the VA's community care programs and its Veteran Readiness 00:16:31.056 --> 00:16:33.136 and Employment (VR&E) service. 00:16:33.626 --> 00:16:36.846 The committee also advanced a bill to the full Senate aimed at providing 00:16:36.846 --> 00:16:40.806 foreclosure relief for veteran homeowners and preventing veteran homelessness. 00:16:41.175 --> 00:16:44.245 Finally, the spirit of the military community was on display at the 00:16:44.245 --> 00:16:48.695 2025 Department of Defense Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colorado. 00:16:49.125 --> 00:16:53.525 The annual event showcases the resilience and determination of wounded, ill, and 00:16:53.525 --> 00:16:57.505 injured service members and veterans through adaptive sports competition. 00:16:58.065 --> 00:17:00.895 It serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring strength 00:17:00.895 --> 00:17:02.055 of those who have served. 00:17:02.358 --> 00:17:03.848 And that's your Weekly Briefing. 00:17:04.178 --> 00:17:08.038 Staying on top of these changes is key to navigating your career, 00:17:08.258 --> 00:17:10.368 your retirement, and your benefits. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:11.660 Thank you for tuning in. 00:17:12.080 --> 00:17:16.010 Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, so you never miss an update. 00:17:16.600 --> 00:17:20.140 We’ll be back next week with another roundup of the news that matters most 00:17:20.350 --> 00:17:22.370 to the military and veteran community.