WEBVTT

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Edward: Welcome to the MIL News Weekly
for 14-20 December 2025, your essential

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guide to the latest news impacting
the military and veteran community.

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Whether you're currently serving in
uniform, a military retiree, a veteran,

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or a family member, this is your source
for the critical updates you need to know.

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Each week, we cut through the noise to
bring you the most important developments

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from the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, and
the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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We’ll cover everything from new
policies and pay raises affecting

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active and reserve forces, to changes
in healthcare and benefits for

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retirees, and the latest on VA services
and legislation for our veterans.

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Let's get you informed.

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Here’s what’s happened this past week.

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Issues That Affect Active and
Reserve Military Personnel

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The focal point for active and reserve
military personnel during the week of

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14 December 2025 was the intersection
of morale-boosting financial initiatives

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and the formalization of long-term
defense policy through the National

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Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

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On 18 December 2025, the U.S.

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Department of War announced the
distribution of the "Warrior

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Dividend," a one-time, tax-free
bonus of $1,776 awarded to nearly 1.5

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million service members.

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Announced by President Donald
Trump and championed by Secretary

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of War Pete Hegseth, the payment
was designed to commemorate the

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250th anniversary of the U.S.

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military and serves as a tangible
expression of the administration's

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commitment to rebuilding the
force and improving the quality

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of life for military families.

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The eligibility for this dividend
was specifically tailored to

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junior and mid-level personnel,
encompassing approximately 1.28

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million active-duty members and
174,000 reserve component members.

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To qualify, active-duty service
members had to be in pay grades O-6

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or below as of 30 November 2025.

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Reserve component members were required
to be on active-duty orders of 31

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days or more as of that same date.

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The payment, billed as a supplement to
the regular monthly housing allowance,

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began reaching bank accounts via
direct transfer with an expected

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completion date of 25 December 2025.

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This dividend was funded through
the broader fiscal framework of the

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"One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (H.R.

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1), demonstrating a strategic use
of supplemental appropriations to

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address personnel retention and morale.

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In tandem with this immediate
financial stimulus, the House of

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Representatives finalized its version
of the fiscal year 2026 National Defense

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Authorization Act (NDAA), a $900 billion
policy bill that authorizes a 3.8%

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pay raise for all service members.

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This raise is a critical component of
the legislative branch's effort to ensure

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military compensation remains competitive
and reflects the increasing costs of

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living faced by military families.

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The NDAA also allocates $1.5

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billion for the improvement and
construction of barracks, dormitories,

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and childcare centers, addressing
critical infrastructure needs that have

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long impacted readiness and retention.

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Furthermore, the bill includes $400
million in military assistance for

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Ukraine for both fiscal years 2026
and 2027, though it also asserts

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significant congressional oversight
by placing limitations on the

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administration's ability to reduce
troop levels in Europe and South Korea.

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Specifically, the legislation mandates
that the Pentagon maintain at least

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76,000 troops in Europe and 28,500
in South Korea unless the Secretary

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of War certifies that reductions are
in the national security interest and

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have been discussed with NATO allies.

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Readiness and physical standards also saw
significant updates during this period.

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On 18 December 2025, the U.S.

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Marine Corps released MARADMIN 613/25,
which outlines rigorous new physical

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fitness and body composition requirements
set to take effect on 1 January 2026.

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These updates are the direct result
of a September 2025 memorandum

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from the Secretary of War aimed at
establishing gender-neutral standards for

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combat-related positions and ensuring that
all service members maintain peak physical

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readiness for high-intensity conflict.

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In addition to these fitness mandates, the
Marine Corps issued promotion authority

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for active-duty corporals and sergeants,
with a command cutoff date of 1 December

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2025 for subsequent advancements,
emphasizing a performance-based approach

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to junior enlisted leadership development.

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Operationally, the Department of
War remained engaged in high-level

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defense policy coordination talks
with international counterparts.

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On 16 December 2025, the department
released a readout of the U.S.-China

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Defense Policy Coordination Talks,
highlighting ongoing efforts to

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manage strategic competition and
maintain communication channels.

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Meanwhile, on the domestic front,
the administration moved to restore

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the honor of service members who were
separated under previous coronavirus

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disease 2019 vaccine mandates, with
Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell

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issuing a statement on 15 December
2025 regarding the memorandum to

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facilitate their return to service
or the correction of their records.

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For federal employees working within
the Department of War, the week

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provided clarity on recruitment
and retention flexibilities.

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On 17 December 2025, the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM) issued CPM

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2025-16, a memorandum detailing human
resources flexibilities for recruiting

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and retaining technical talent in
information technology, cybersecurity,

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and artificial intelligence.

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This guidance allows agencies
to use enhanced compensation

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tools, such as special rates and
critical pay, to safeguard federal

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systems and modernize operations.

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This is particularly relevant given
the administration's "Building the AI

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Workforce of the Future" initiative,
announced on 15 December 2025, which

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plans to recruit 1,000 technical
fellows annually to fill critical

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skills gaps across the executive branch.

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Relevant Legislation for
Active and Reserve Personnel

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S.

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2296 - National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2026

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Authorizes $901 billion for national
security programs, including a 3.8%

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pay raise for troops, $1.5

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billion for barracks improvements,
and $400 million in Ukraine aid.

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It prohibits diversity, equity, and
inclusion programs and restricts troop

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withdrawals from Europe and South Korea.

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Provides a significant pay
increase for military personnel and

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authorizes funding for civilian-led
procurement and research projects.

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Impacts future retirement pay
calculations based on the 3.8%

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base pay increase for active
members nearing retirement.

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H.R.

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983 - Montgomery GI Bill Selected
Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2025

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Signed into law on 12 December 2025, this
act requires public institutions of higher

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learning to charge in-state tuition rates
to veterans and reserve members using

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Chapter 1606 educational assistance.

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Directly lowers the cost of education for
reserve component members who are also

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federal employees, facilitating career
development without increased debt.

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Does not directly affect retirees
but improves the educational

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transition for future retirees
from the reserve components.

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Military CARE Act

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Bipartisan legislation introduced to
modernize how TRICARE beneficiaries report

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and resolve health care access challenges
at military treatment facilities.

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It creates a digital platform
for monitoring care issues and

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requires real-time notifications
to patient advocates.

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Provides active-duty families and
military-civilian employees a direct

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line to resolve administrative
roadblocks in health care.

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Enhances transparency and accountability
for retirees utilizing the TRICARE system.

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Issues That Affect
Retired Military Personnel

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Military retirees and retired
federal employees faced a complex

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landscape of financial adjustments
and administrative changes during

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the week of 14 December 2025.

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The most significant development was the
finalization of the 2026 Cost-of-Living

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Adjustment (COLA), set at 2.8%.

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This adjustment is based on the increase
in the Consumer Price Index for Urban

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Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W)
and is designed to ensure that retirement

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benefits keep pace with inflation.

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While the 2.8%

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increase is slightly lower than the 3.2%

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seen in 2024, it remains a vital
protection for the purchasing

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power of over 75 million Americans,
including military retirees

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and Social Security recipients.

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Retirees will see the first effects
of the 2026 COLA in their 31 December

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2025 payments, while Survivor Benefit
Plan (SBP) annuitants will see the

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change in their 2 January 2026 payments.

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It is important to note that the COLA
for military retirees is calculated

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differently than active-duty pay raises;
while retirees are tied to CPI-W,

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active-duty raises are generally linked
to the Employment Cost Index (ECI).

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For those in their first year of
retirement, a partial COLA may apply

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depending on their retirement date
to prevent double-dipping from both

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a new pay raise and a full COLA.

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Additionally, retirees under the
Career Status Bonus/REDUX plan will

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receive a COLA that is one percentage
point lower than the standard rate,

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as per established federal law.

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The broader federal workforce,
which includes many retired military

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members working as civil servants,
also received definitive guidance

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on pay for the upcoming year.

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On 18 December 2025, President
Trump issued an executive order

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implementing a 1% across-the-board
pay raise for most civilian federal

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workers, effective in January 2026.

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This marks a decrease from the 2%
raise issued the previous year and

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includes a freeze on locality pay rates.

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However, certain federal law enforcement
categories may receive a higher 3.8%

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raise, aligning their compensation
with military standards as the

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administration seeks to surge hiring
in immigration and security roles.

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Health care remained a primary concern as
the TRICARE Open Season drew to a close.

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While the open season ended on 9 December
2025, the week of 14 December 2025

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was a critical period for retirees to
finalize their understanding of the

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changes taking effect on 1 January 2026.

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Retirees were reminded that they must
take action to enroll in a civilian

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TRICARE plan to maintain civilian care
coverage, and that they would begin

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paying retiree-level costs for services.

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For those eligible for Medicare Part
A, the requirement to have Part B to

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maintain TRICARE For Life (TFL) remains
a cornerstone of the benefit structure.

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Furthermore, retirees in the Atlanta
and Tampa areas were briefed on the

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TRICARE Prime Demo by CareSource
Military & Veterans, which offers waived

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enrollment fees for the first year for
those who switch to the new network.

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Administrative backlogs continued
to plague the transition

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process for new retirees.

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As of December 2025, the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM) reported

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a retirement application backlog
of nearly 50,000 cases, a situation

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described by policy analysts as a
source of "holiday heartache" for

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those awaiting their full benefits.

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This backlog underscores the
administrative challenges facing

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the federal human capital system,
even as the administration

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moves toward "Federal HR 2.0,"

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a consolidation effort aimed
at streamlining human capital

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management across the government.

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In the legislative arena, the House
of Representatives took a significant

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step by passing the Protect America’s
Workforce Act (PAWA) on 11 December

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2025, with the bill being received
in the Senate on 15 December 2025.

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This bipartisan legislation seeks
to nullify an executive order from

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March 2025 that stripped union
rights from approximately one million

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federal workers across 40 agencies,
including the Department of War and

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the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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For retirees who continue to serve
in the federal workforce, PAWA

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represents a critical effort to
restore collective bargaining rights

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and ensure workplace stability.

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Supporters of the bill, including
Representatives Jared Golden and Brian

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Fitzpatrick, argue that unions provide
essential protections against unfair

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treatment and political interference,
while critics point to the costs of

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"official time" used for union business.

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Relevant Legislation for Retired Personnel

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H.R.

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2550 - Protect America’s Workforce Act

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Passed the House on 11 December 2025,
this bill nullifies the executive

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order titled "Exclusions from Federal
Labor-Management Relations Programs."

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it restores collective bargaining rights
for federal employees and ensures that

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existing union contracts remain in effect.

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Restores the ability of federal workers
to organize and bargain collectively

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over conditions of employment.

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Protects the labor rights of retirees
who are currently employed in the

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federal sector and ensures a stable,
nonpartisan civil service for

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the delivery of retiree benefits.

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H.R.

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2138 - Veterans' Compensation
Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025

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Introduced in March 2025, this bill
requires the VA to increase disability

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compensation and dependent benefits by
the same percentage as the Social Security

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COLA, ensuring parity in inflation
adjustments across benefit programs.

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Does not directly affect current
civilian employees unless they are

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disabled veterans or survivors.

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Ensures that retired military members
receiving disability pay see their

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benefits adjusted in line with inflation,
maintaining their standard of living.

00:13:12.682 --> 00:13:12.902
S.

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423 - PRO Veterans Act of 2025

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Became law on 14 August 2025, this act
requires the VA to provide quarterly

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budget briefings to Congress and
prohibits the payment of critical

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skill incentives to Senior Executive
Service (SES) employees at the VA.

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Eliminates high-level pay incentives
for senior VA executives, potentially

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impacting recruitment at the
highest levels of the department.

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Increases congressional oversight
of the VA budget, which can lead

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to more stable funding for retiree
health care and benefit programs.

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Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs

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The week of 14 December 2025 was a
landmark period for the Department of

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Veterans Affairs (VA), characterized by
the launch of the most significant health

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care reorganization in three decades.

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On 15 December 2025, Secretary of Veterans
Affairs Doug Collins announced a massive

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restructuring of the Veterans Health
Administration (VHA) management system.

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The plan involves slashing the number
of Veterans Integrated Service Networks

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(VISNs) from 18 down to five, with these
consolidated networks reporting directly

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to the VA Under Secretary for Health.

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This overhaul, the largest since
1995, is designed to eliminate

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duplicative layers of middle
management, empower local hospital

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directors, and ensure a more consistent
application of VA policies nationwide.

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This reorganization is a response
to both internal and external

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reviews that identified governing
weaknesses and a management structure

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"riddled with redundancies".

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By reducing these layers, the VA
intends to accelerate decision-making

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and allow clinical leaders to
focus more on patient care rather

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than administrative bureaucracy.

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While the department emphasized that the
plan is not an attempt to reduce frontline

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staff, it did announce the elimination
of 25,000 vacant positions within

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the VHA, many of which were temporary
roles created during the pandemic.

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This move has been met with mixed
reactions, as some lawmakers and veterans

00:15:02.662 --> 00:15:07.352
service organizations (VSOs) expressed
concern about the potential impact on

00:15:07.352 --> 00:15:11.062
appointment wait times and the lack of
consultation during the planning stages.

00:15:11.290 --> 00:15:16.310
Simultaneously, the VA released a
Request for Proposals (RFP) on 15

00:15:16.310 --> 00:15:20.780
December 2025 for new community care
contracts that could be worth up to

00:15:20.780 --> 00:15:22.940
$1 trillion over the next ten years.

00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:27.010
This initiative aims to expand the
private-sector options available

00:15:27.010 --> 00:15:29.930
to veterans, moving toward a
model where multiple national

00:15:29.930 --> 00:15:32.990
and regional health plans compete
to provide high-quality care.

00:15:33.280 --> 00:15:37.680
The new indefinite delivery/indefinite
quantity (IDIQ) contract structure

00:15:37.920 --> 00:15:42.080
is intended to give the VA more
flexibility to manage care in real-time

00:15:42.260 --> 00:15:45.890
and hold contractors accountable for
meeting strict quality standards.

00:15:46.370 --> 00:15:50.850
The number of community care regions will
also be consolidated from five down to

00:15:50.880 --> 00:15:55.840
two, a change that department leaders say
will improve oversight and consistency.

00:15:56.164 --> 00:15:58.654
Disabled veterans also saw
the enactment of critical

00:15:58.654 --> 00:16:00.184
legislation during this period.

00:16:00.694 --> 00:16:04.004
On 12 December 2025, the
President signed H.R.

00:16:04.004 --> 00:16:08.734
1912, the "Veteran Fraud
Reimbursement Act of 2025," into law.

00:16:09.254 --> 00:16:12.354
This act significantly improves
the process for reimbursing

00:16:12.354 --> 00:16:15.914
veterans whose benefits have been
misused by appointed fiduciaries.

00:16:16.584 --> 00:16:20.654
Under the new law, the VA is required to
directly reimburse the veteran or their

00:16:20.654 --> 00:16:25.344
new fiduciary the full amount of misused
funds, regardless of whether the misuse

00:16:25.344 --> 00:16:27.274
was the result of departmental negligence.

00:16:27.564 --> 00:16:31.314
The bill also requires the VA to make
a good faith effort to recoup the funds

00:16:31.314 --> 00:16:35.004
from the original fraudulent fiduciary,
ensuring that veterans are protected

00:16:35.004 --> 00:16:39.084
from financial exploitation and benefit
from a more accountable fiduciary system.

00:16:39.433 --> 00:16:44.113
Furthermore, on 12 December 2025,
the "Fairness for Servicemembers and

00:16:44.113 --> 00:16:46.543
Their Families Act of 2025" (H.R.

00:16:46.543 --> 00:16:48.763
970) became public law.

00:16:49.343 --> 00:16:53.163
This legislation mandates that the
VA periodically review the maximum

00:16:53.163 --> 00:16:56.903
coverage amounts for the Servicemembers'
Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and

00:16:56.903 --> 00:17:00.803
Veterans' Group Life Insurance
(VGLI) programs every five years.

00:17:01.273 --> 00:17:04.153
The reviews will take into account
the average percentage by which the

00:17:04.153 --> 00:17:08.673
Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) has
increased, ensuring that these life

00:17:08.673 --> 00:17:12.243
insurance benefits retain their
value for veterans and their families

00:17:12.243 --> 00:17:13.843
in an inflationary environment.

00:17:14.210 --> 00:17:17.890
In addition to structural and legislative
changes, the VA continued to advance

00:17:17.890 --> 00:17:19.790
technological and healthcare initiatives.

00:17:20.250 --> 00:17:24.380
The department reported early success
with "ambient AI scribe" technology,

00:17:24.630 --> 00:17:28.030
an AI-powered tool that assists
healthcare providers in recording

00:17:28.030 --> 00:17:32.320
patient conversations, thereby improving
record accuracy and allowing more

00:17:32.320 --> 00:17:34.300
time for direct patient interaction.

00:17:34.960 --> 00:17:38.470
The VA also launched a reorganized
Veterans Health Administration

00:17:38.470 --> 00:17:42.360
website and implemented the Oracle
Health Community Care app to support

00:17:42.360 --> 00:17:46.370
home-based primary care teams in
remote areas without internet access.

00:17:46.860 --> 00:17:49.910
On the benefits side, the
2025 VA disability pay

00:17:49.910 --> 00:17:52.270
rates, which reflected a 3.3%

00:17:52.270 --> 00:17:56.610
COLA increase, remain in
effect, with the confirmed 2.8%

00:17:56.610 --> 00:18:01.330
increase for 2026 set to begin with
the December 2025 payment cycle.

00:18:01.609 --> 00:18:05.359
The week also saw the introduction of
the Veterans Pensions Protection Act of

00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:08.279
2025 by Representative Jared Moskowitz.

00:18:08.709 --> 00:18:13.229
This legislation aims to close a loophole
that currently counts one-time medical

00:18:13.279 --> 00:18:17.259
or injury-related payments, such as
insurance settlements, as income when

00:18:17.259 --> 00:18:19.579
determining eligibility for VA pensions.

00:18:20.159 --> 00:18:23.619
By excluding these payments from
income calculations, the bill seeks

00:18:23.619 --> 00:18:26.839
to prevent veterans from losing their
pensions during times of medical

00:18:26.839 --> 00:18:30.339
emergency or recovery, providing
greater financial stability for the

00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:32.369
most vulnerable survivors and veterans.

00:18:32.730 --> 00:18:34.710
Relevant Legislation for Veterans Affairs

00:18:35.005 --> 00:18:35.505
H.R.

00:18:35.505 --> 00:18:39.285
1912 - Veteran Fraud
Reimbursement Act of 2025

00:18:39.666 --> 00:18:44.546
Signed into law on 12 December 2025,
this act requires the VA to reissue

00:18:44.546 --> 00:18:48.336
misused benefits to veterans or
their successor fiduciaries without

00:18:48.336 --> 00:18:50.356
requiring a finding of VA negligence.

00:18:50.746 --> 00:18:54.566
it also mandates oversight of the
fiduciary system to prevent future misuse.

00:18:54.984 --> 00:18:59.224
Requires VA claims processors and
fiduciary managers to implement new

00:18:59.224 --> 00:19:01.134
reimbursement and recoupment procedures.

00:19:01.470 --> 00:19:04.250
Provides critical financial
protection for retirees who may

00:19:04.250 --> 00:19:08.080
require a fiduciary to manage their
benefits due to age or disability.

00:19:08.396 --> 00:19:08.756
H.R.

00:19:08.756 --> 00:19:12.586
970 - Fairness for Servicemembers
and Their Families Act of 2025

00:19:12.963 --> 00:19:17.703
Signed into law on 12 December 2025,
this act requires the VA to review

00:19:17.703 --> 00:19:22.473
the maximum coverage under SGLI and
VGLI every five years and report

00:19:22.473 --> 00:19:25.703
to Congress on how these amounts
compare to inflation-adjusted figures.

00:19:26.083 --> 00:19:29.903
Does not directly impact civilian
employees unless they are service members.

00:19:30.129 --> 00:19:33.119
Ensures that the life insurance
options available to them through

00:19:33.119 --> 00:19:36.789
the VGLI program remain relevant
and provide sufficient financial

00:19:36.789 --> 00:19:38.569
security for their beneficiaries.

00:19:38.917 --> 00:19:39.287
H.R.

00:19:39.287 --> 00:19:43.897
2138 - Veterans' Compensation
Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025

00:19:44.304 --> 00:19:48.524
Requires the VA to increase disability
compensation, dependency and indemnity

00:19:48.524 --> 00:19:52.144
compensation, and clothing allowances
by the same percentage as the Social

00:19:52.144 --> 00:19:55.534
Security COLA, effective 1 December 2025.

00:19:55.950 --> 00:19:58.810
Benefits employees who are also
disabled veterans or who have

00:19:58.810 --> 00:20:00.770
dependents receiving VA compensation.

00:20:01.145 --> 00:20:04.235
Provides an essential inflation
adjustment for retirees receiving

00:20:04.235 --> 00:20:06.055
service-connected disability pay.

00:20:06.399 --> 00:20:08.929
Veterans Pensions Protection Act of 2025

00:20:09.371 --> 00:20:13.491
Introduced in December 2025, this
bill excludes reimbursements for

00:20:13.491 --> 00:20:17.061
medical expenses and compensation
for pain and suffering from income

00:20:17.061 --> 00:20:18.831
calculations for VA pensions.

00:20:19.210 --> 00:20:21.620
Does not directly affect
current civilian employees.

00:20:21.894 --> 00:20:24.984
Protects the pensions of low-income
military retirees and their

00:20:24.984 --> 00:20:28.504
survivors from being reduced
or eliminated due to temporary,

00:20:28.544 --> 00:20:30.574
emergency-related financial settlements.

00:20:30.939 --> 00:20:32.369
And that's your Weekly Briefing.

00:20:32.889 --> 00:20:36.499
Staying on top of these changes
is key to navigating your career,

00:20:36.529 --> 00:20:38.559
your retirement, and your benefits.

00:20:38.874 --> 00:20:39.844
Thank you for tuning in.

00:20:40.274 --> 00:20:44.254
Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your
podcasts, so you never miss an update.

00:20:44.814 --> 00:20:48.144
We’ll be back next week with another
roundup of the news that matters most

00:20:48.144 --> 00:20:50.004
to the military and veteran community.