Edward: Welcome to the MIL News Weekly for 7 - 13 September 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
Legislative and Policy Developments
On September 10, 2025, the House of Representatives passed its version
of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), H.R.
3838, by a vote of 231 to 196.
The legislation, formally titled the âStreamlining Procurement for Effective
Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2026,â includes a significant 3.8%
pay raise for all military members, which is slated to become
effective on January 1, 2026.
This increase is consistent with the budget proposal submitted by
the White House earlier in the year.
The passage of the House bill, however, was not without controversy.
While the legislation contained bipartisan agreements, such as a renewal of security
aid for Ukraine, it also included several amendments that alienated many Democrats.
These contentious, largely party-line provisions include a prohibition
on TRICARE from covering gender transition care and the repeal of
the 2002 and 1991 authorizations for the use of military force.
Democratic criticism was particularly vocal after the Republican-led House
Rules Committee denied votes on a slate of amendments that sought to address
concerns about the administration's politicization of the military.
The inclusion of these highly divisive amendments in a bill that
has historically been a model of bipartisan cooperation indicates
that fundamental aspects of military service are becoming battlegrounds
for broader political agendas.
This trend, where deeply personal and social issues are woven into core
defense legislation, could present challenges for recruitment and retention,
particularly as it may discourage service members who value a more inclusive
and less politicized environment.
A separate, bipartisan effort focused on military family welfare
also gained traction this week.
On September 12, 2025, U.S.
Congressman Blake Moore announced his support for a bipartisan,
bicameral bill aimed at reducing food insecurity among military families.
The legislation, known as the Military Food Security Act, would ensure military
families have better access to affordable, healthy food by excluding the Basic
Allowance for Housing (BAH) from the income calculations used to determine
eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance.
The legislation's sponsors argue that many service members and their families,
particularly junior enlisted personnel, struggle to afford groceries due to
outdated rules that fail to account for the real financial challenges they face.
This initiative is a practical, non-ideological effort to address
a persistent quality-of-life issue that directly impacts readiness and
morale by alleviating the financial stress on junior enlisted families.
The executive branch also made a significant, if symbolic, move.
On September 5, 2025, President Donald J.
Trump signed an Executive Order titled "Restoring the United
States Department of War".
The order authorizes the use of "Department of War" as a secondary
title for the Department of Defense and "Secretary of War" for the Secretary
of Defense in non-statutory contexts, such as official correspondence
and public communications.
The order's stated purpose is to project an image of strength and resolve,
demonstrating a willingness to "fight and win wars" to secure national interests.
While the order directs the Secretary of War to submit a recommendation
for a permanent legislative name change within 60 days, it explicitly
states that statutory references to the Department of Defense will remain
controlling until changed by law.
The order is a powerful symbolic gesture meant to reframe the military's
mission in the public consciousness, but it lacks the statutory authority
to effect a legal name change.
The contrasting approaches of the House NDAA (H.R.
3838) with its tangible, if controversial, policy changes, and the executive
order's focus on messaging and symbolic action, illustrate a bifurcated
approach to military governance.
Readiness and Operations News
In a move to incentivize high-level physical fitness, the Army has published
a new directive that exempts soldiers who score 465 points or more on the
new Army Fitness Test (AFT) from the service's body fat standards.
To qualify for the exemption, soldiers must score at least 80 points in
each of the test's five events, and no alternative events are permitted.
This policy, which is effective immediately and applies to all Army
components, is a continuation of a prior initiative under the former Army
Combat Fitness Test and is intended to reward performance and promote
a culture of health and readiness.
The new policy shifts the focus from strict, sometimes arbitrary,
body composition metrics to a reward system based on
demonstrated physical performance.
This indicates a broader trend in military policy that values demonstrable excellence
over compliance with cosmetic standards.
The U.S.
Navy Reserve's Cyber Warfare Technicians (CWT) and Maritime Cyber Warfare
Officers (MCWO) are playing a critical role in integrating cyber operations
into the Operational Level of War (OLW), seamlessly bridging the gap
between strategic cyber capabilities and tactical warfighting objectives.
A press release from September 11, 2025, highlighted the Navy's strategic
investment in this area, acknowledging cyberspace as a decisive domain.
By cultivating and deploying highly trained CWTs and MCWOs, the Navy
aims to project influence and defend critical infrastructure in both
physical and digital environments.
The Navy's emphasis on a robust cyber security Reserve Force highlights its
commitment to maintaining operational superiority in the face of escalating
global tensions and increasingly sophisticated adversary tactics.
This focus on developing specialized skills shows a recognition that
modern warfare requires a highly technical, adaptable force capable of
operating effectively in all domains.
New military hardware and technology are also in development to enhance readiness.
The Army is preparing to field a new Launched Effects system across
all divisions by the end of 2026, with soldiers already participating
in a special user demonstration for short-range capabilities at Joint
Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.
Meanwhile, the Marine Corps is seeking new radar systems to pair with its
mobile air defense capabilities, the Marine Air Defense Integrated
System (MADIS) and Light-MADIS.
The desired radar is intended to detect and track drones and manned aircraft, must
have a technology readiness level of eight or higher, and should not exceed $1.5
million per unit.
These developments in both technology and policy demonstrate
a clear military-wide commitment to modernization and adaptation.
Issues That Affect Retired Military Personnel
Federal and Military Retirement Matters
Federal employees are nearing a critical administrative deadline for the Deferred
Resignation Program, with a final resignation date of September 30, 2025.
The program, which has been the subject of legal challenges, allows eligible
employees to submit a deferred resignation letter in exchange for paid administrative
leave until the end of the period.
Employees who are eligible for normal or early retirement before or on this date
can still accept the deferred resignation offer, and their retirement election
will override the deferred resignation.
These employees will continue to accrue retirement benefits and service credit
during the period of administrative leave.
This program was designed to facilitate "workforce restructuring
and realignment efforts" to create a "leaner, less expensive, less
wasteful" federal workforce.
However, the looming deadline could place significant strain on the Office
of Personnel Management (OPM), which is already dealing with a backlog
of federal retirement applications.
In August alone, OPM saw 9,416 employees file for retirement, indicating that
the new policy could exacerbate an existing administrative challenge.
Financial projections for 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLAs) were
also a major topic of interest this week.
Based on the August 2025 Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
Workers (CPI-W), the projected 2026 COLAs for federal civilian retirees are 2.8%
for the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and 2.0%
for the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).
These projections are calculated based on the increase in the average
CPI-W between the third quarter of 2024 and the third quarter of 2025.
The final COLA calculation will be confirmed in October 2025, following
the release of the September CPI-W data.
These figures, while a measure of relief, are based on a
past inflationary environment.
The fact that the final numbers are determined in October and do not take
effect until January 2026 means retirees on a fixed income will have absorbed
the full cost of inflation throughout 2025 without a commensurate adjustment.
This illustrates a fundamental aspect of the COLA system, which lags behind
real-time economic conditions and can place a financial burden on retirees
during periods of rapid inflation.
Healthcare and Benefits Updates
TRICARE beneficiaries in the West Region received a crucial reminder
about the impending expiration of their primary care manager referral waiver.
As of September 8, 2025, beneficiaries were notified that if they are seeing
a specialist through the referral waiver process, their care under that
waiver will end on September 30, 2025.
To avoid out-of-pocket costs and point-of-service fees, beneficiaries
must obtain a new referral from their primary care manager to a network
specialist, effective October 1, 2025.
This reminder is particularly relevant for beneficiaries in the six statesâArkansas,
Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsinâthat moved from the
East to the West Region on January 1, 2025, and now fall under the new
contractor, TriWest Healthcare Alliance.
This administrative change requires proactive management from beneficiaries
and serves as a significant example of how a failure to follow
administrative guidance can lead to unexpected financial burdens.
Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs
Legislative and Claims Processing Reforms
Several key bills were active in Congress this week, signaling a
continued focus on veterans' issues.
The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee received two new
bills on September 9, 2025: S.B.
2737, which would require the VA to implement a pilot program
for hyperbaric oxygen therapy for certain veterans, and S.B.
2698, which seeks to reinstate Post-9/11 Educational Assistance for victims of
sexual assault or domestic violence.
In the House, new bills were also introduced, including H.B.
5203 on September 8, 2025, which directs the VA to update
directives on the management of acute sexual assault, and H.B.
5277 on September 10, 2025, which aims to increase payments for
transporting veterans to VA facilities.
These legislative efforts demonstrate a granular, issue-specific approach to
veterans' care, addressing particular and often niche problems faced by different
segments of the veteran population.
Beyond new bills, a significant piece of legislation, the "Putting
Veterans First Act of 2025" (S.1068),
continues to advance.
Introduced in the Senate on March 13, 2025, the bill aims to provide substantial
protections for veterans and military families who are federal employees.
The bill's provisions include limitations on hiring freezes at the
VA and restrictions on closing VA offices or changing telework policies
without extensive prior notice.
A particularly notable provision would nullify any removal, demotion,
or suspension of a veteran, military spouse, caregiver, or reserve member
from a civil service position that occurred after January 20, 2025, with
retroactive benefits and back pay.
The bill also prohibits the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from concurrently serving
as the head of another federal agency, whether on a permanent or acting basis.
This comprehensive bill is part of a broader, multi-pronged legislative
strategy to support veterans by protecting their employment rights
and ensuring the stability of the VA.
The VA announced a major administrative achievement this week, having
processed more disability and pension ratings claims in fiscal year 2025
than ever before, surpassing its FY24 record nearly two months early.
As of August 8, 2025, the VA had issued 2,524,115 claims, a remarkable
feat given that receipts were 10% higher than the previous year.
The VA has processed claims 17.8%
faster in FY25 than in FY24, and the backlog of veterans waiting
for benefits has dropped by more than 37% since January 20, 2025.
These improvements are the direct result of strategic policy changes, including
the implementation of artificial intelligence tools to accelerate claims
processing and the expansion of weekend and evening hours at regional offices.
The VA's success in streamlining this bureaucratic process demonstrates that
strategic investment in technology and human resources can lead to tangible,
positive outcomes for veterans.
Veteran Healthcare and Benefit Enhancements
Veterans with service-connected disabilities can expect a boost
in their monthly compensation.
The 2025 VA disability compensation rates have increased by 2.5%
due to a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).
For example, a veteran with a 100% disability rating now receives a
base monthly payment of $3,737.85,
up from $3,652.83
in 2024.
Veterans with a spouse and two children at the 100% rating can receive up to $4,196
per month, all of which is tax-free.
These payments, which for September 2025 were distributed on September 30,
provide crucial financial stability for veterans and their families.
The VA has also made significant improvements to the claims process
by adding several new conditions to its presumptive list for 2025.
This change streamlines the process for veterans who were exposed to burn pits
and contaminated water, allowing them to receive disability compensation without
needing extensive medical evidence.
Respiratory conditions and rare lung diseases are now eligible for
expedited processing for burn pit exposure, while veterans exposed to
contaminated water at military bases can now file claims for kidney cancer,
liver cancer, and multiple sclerosis with a streamlined approval process.
This proactive approach by the VA demonstrates a clear commitment
to addressing the long-term health consequences of military service
and reducing the burden on veterans to prove their service connection.
Healthcare access and education benefits also saw enhancements.
The VA has implemented major improvements to healthcare access,
including the expansion of its formulary with over 200 new medications for
conditions ranging from migraines to advanced cancer therapies.
New mobile medical units have also been deployed to provide direct care
to veterans experiencing homelessness.
On the education front, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans
Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act of 2025 brought significant changes,
including a temporary expansion of the Marine Gunnery Sergeant John
David Fry Scholarship and the payment of a full monthly housing stipend
during a veteran's final semester, regardless of their enrollment status.
These improvements indicate a holistic view of veteran well-being, recognizing
that care extends beyond physical health to encompass financial stability,
housing, and educational opportunities.
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.