WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.029 --> 00:00:05.329 Edward: Welcome to MIL News Weekly for 29 June to 5 July 2025, your essential 00:00:05.329 --> 00:00:08.979 guide to the latest news impacting the military and veteran community. 00:00:09.430 --> 00:00:13.359 Whether you're currently serving in uniform, a military retiree, a veteran, 00:00:13.359 --> 00:00:17.430 or a family member, this is your source for the critical updates you need to know. 00:00:17.816 --> 00:00:21.526 Each week, we cut through the noise to bring you the most important developments 00:00:21.526 --> 00:00:25.246 from the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. 00:00:25.706 --> 00:00:29.346 We’ll cover everything from new policies and pay raises affecting 00:00:29.346 --> 00:00:32.996 active and reserve forces, to changes in healthcare and benefits for 00:00:32.996 --> 00:00:37.596 retirees, and the latest on VA services and legislation for our veterans. 00:00:38.166 --> 00:00:39.066 Let's get you informed. 00:00:39.376 --> 00:00:40.806 Here’s what’s happened this past week. 00:00:41.185 --> 00:00:43.595 Issues That Affect Active and Reserve Military 00:00:43.885 --> 00:00:47.695 Active-duty and reserve forces have seen several notable developments. 00:00:48.055 --> 00:00:49.315 Most visibly, U.S. 00:00:49.315 --> 00:00:53.205 Marines and National Guard troops have been deployed to assist domestic missions. 00:00:53.665 --> 00:00:58.345 In one instance, the Marine Corps sent 200 Marines from North Carolina to support 00:00:58.375 --> 00:01:02.265 an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Florida, with another 00:01:02.265 --> 00:01:04.965 500 to deploy to Texas and Louisiana. 00:01:05.318 --> 00:01:08.008 These troops are performing administrative and logistical duties 00:01:08.008 --> 00:01:11.438 for ICE under Department of Defense authority, explicitly prohibited 00:01:11.438 --> 00:01:13.218 from direct law-enforcement contact. 00:01:13.514 --> 00:01:17.204 Similarly, thousands of Guardsmen and reservists remain on standby 00:01:17.274 --> 00:01:20.854 or deployed for border support in Texas and along the U.S.–Mexico 00:01:20.854 --> 00:01:24.484 border (the so-called “Texas Zone” and Louisiana). 00:01:24.802 --> 00:01:28.522 These deployments highlight an expanded domestic role for the military under 00:01:28.522 --> 00:01:30.282 existing war-powers authorities. 00:01:30.772 --> 00:01:34.152 The Department of Defense has also reported budgetary and quality-of-life 00:01:34.192 --> 00:01:36.142 changes for active troops and families. 00:01:36.622 --> 00:01:39.832 The recently passed budget “reconciliation” package (sometimes 00:01:39.832 --> 00:01:45.392 called the “big, beautiful bill”) includes roughly $150–157 billion 00:01:45.392 --> 00:01:46.992 in supplemental defense spending. 00:01:47.362 --> 00:01:50.642 Much of this boost goes to pay, housing, and quality-of-life 00:01:50.722 --> 00:01:55.952 programs: it funds an extra $1 billion in barracks construction, $2.9 00:01:55.952 --> 00:02:01.472 billion to shore up Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates, $100 million for 00:02:01.472 --> 00:02:06.662 expanded tuition assistance, and $50 million for new bonuses and special pays 00:02:07.012 --> 00:02:11.162 (including a proposed “Distributed Loan Repayment Plan” for junior officers). 00:02:11.438 --> 00:02:15.198 The bill also fully funds the annual military pay raise for January 00:02:15.198 --> 00:02:19.718 2025 (a multi-year pay reform now in effect) and provides extra 00:02:19.758 --> 00:02:21.358 unaccompanied housing allowances. 00:02:21.778 --> 00:02:24.918 These changes are aimed at improving retention and living conditions 00:02:24.918 --> 00:02:26.818 for active and reserve personnel. 00:02:27.151 --> 00:02:30.611 At the same time, certain cold-weather and overseas contingency accounts 00:02:30.611 --> 00:02:35.061 are increased to cover COVID-related costs and border missions, as Congress 00:02:35.061 --> 00:02:40.131 accepted DOD’s requests to fund 8,500 border troops already on assignment. 00:02:40.499 --> 00:02:43.569 A related House-passed appropriations bill (H.R. 00:02:43.569 --> 00:02:49.409 3944) would fully fund FY2026 military construction and family-housing projects 00:02:49.409 --> 00:02:52.899 for all branches, including all Air Guard and Reserve infrastructure. 00:02:53.294 --> 00:02:53.714 (H.R. 00:02:53.714 --> 00:02:58.524 3944, approved by the House on June 25, guarantees full funding for veterans’ 00:02:58.524 --> 00:03:00.444 health and benefit programs as well.) 00:03:00.784 --> 00:03:03.604 Other news includes personnel and recruitment trends. 00:03:04.044 --> 00:03:07.504 The Air Force and newly independent Space Force announced on July 1 00:03:07.874 --> 00:03:11.914 that they have exceeded their 2025 recruiting goals months early. 00:03:12.238 --> 00:03:15.528 Top brass credited this to record enlistment incentives and new 00:03:15.528 --> 00:03:17.918 public relations campaigns: e.g., 00:03:17.978 --> 00:03:22.318 the Air Force raised its enlistment bonus to up to $50,000 for technical 00:03:22.318 --> 00:03:26.168 jobs and promoted career fields from cyber to space operations. 00:03:26.658 --> 00:03:30.368 The success comes even as the Army and Navy lag behind; all 00:03:30.368 --> 00:03:33.528 services are grappling with post-pandemic readiness gaps. 00:03:34.048 --> 00:03:36.288 Finally, Congress has again debated U.S. 00:03:36.288 --> 00:03:38.348 war powers and overseas missions. 00:03:38.908 --> 00:03:43.078 During the week, the Senate considered (but did not pass) amendments to restrict 00:03:43.078 --> 00:03:46.648 the President’s authority to strike Iran without congressional approval. 00:03:47.128 --> 00:03:50.338 Meanwhile, Pentagon leaders continue planning for a wide array 00:03:50.338 --> 00:03:54.148 of overseas missions, from Pacific exercises to NATO commitments. 00:03:54.488 --> 00:03:57.138 (No major force reductions or new combat deployments were 00:03:57.138 --> 00:03:58.128 announced in this period.) 00:03:58.538 --> 00:04:01.668 Beyond budget bills, Congress is considering several military 00:04:01.668 --> 00:04:03.438 personnel and benefits measures. 00:04:03.918 --> 00:04:10.388 For example, the FY2026 NDAA (not yet passed) is expected to contain a 3.4% 00:04:10.458 --> 00:04:15.858 pay raise (already signed into law for January 2025) and expanded bonuses. 00:04:16.538 --> 00:04:19.978 The current “reconciliation” package itself was not a single bill with a 00:04:19.978 --> 00:04:24.348 number but Senate and House appropriations bills and the omnibus “Build Back 00:04:24.348 --> 00:04:28.668 Better” reconciliation bill all contain military pay and housing increases. 00:04:29.019 --> 00:04:33.389 Other pending proposals include changes to military leave accrual (the 00:04:33.389 --> 00:04:39.649 FY2025 NDAA raised leave for E-1 to E-4 members) and revisions to Tricare 00:04:39.649 --> 00:04:44.459 contracts (a new All-Service healthcare contract went live January 2025). 00:04:44.862 --> 00:04:46.852 Issues That Affect Retired Military 00:04:47.141 --> 00:04:50.921 Retired service members saw relatively limited new developments in this week. 00:04:51.351 --> 00:04:54.721 The biggest administrative change is the forthcoming update to Survivor 00:04:54.721 --> 00:04:56.761 Benefit Plan (SBP) premiums. 00:04:57.321 --> 00:05:01.521 Beginning August 2025, retirees who currently pay SBP premiums 00:05:01.721 --> 00:05:03.381 “by direct remittance” (i.e. 00:05:03.381 --> 00:05:06.081 sending checks to the Treasury) will instead be billed and 00:05:06.081 --> 00:05:09.911 processed by DFAS (the Defense Finance and Accounting Service). 00:05:10.175 --> 00:05:13.615 Retirees will receive new premium statements from DFAS mid-year, 00:05:13.905 --> 00:05:16.545 although the premium rates themselves remain unchanged. 00:05:16.915 --> 00:05:20.525 This move centralizes billing under DFAS and is part of ongoing 00:05:20.525 --> 00:05:24.315 retiree pay modernization; no retroactive effect is expected. 00:05:24.575 --> 00:05:27.505 Retirees will need to update their payment accounts to DFAS 00:05:27.585 --> 00:05:29.285 by this summer to avoid lapses. 00:05:29.584 --> 00:05:32.654 On benefits, the Department of Defense and VA continue normal 00:05:32.654 --> 00:05:37.564 operations (announcing new ID cards for retirees, outreach programs, etc.) 00:05:38.114 --> 00:05:41.214 but no major changes were announced in the first week of July. 00:05:41.534 --> 00:05:45.774 However, several bills in Congress could directly affect retired military: 00:05:46.023 --> 00:05:46.628 H.R. 00:05:46.628 --> 00:05:51.363 333 (Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act): This bill would allow veterans with 00:05:51.363 --> 00:05:56.153 service-connected disabilities under 50% to receive both their retired pay and 00:05:56.153 --> 00:05:58.553 VA disability compensation concurrently. 00:05:58.887 --> 00:06:02.737 It would also extend concurrent-payment rights to disability retirees with 00:06:02.737 --> 00:06:06.257 fewer than 20 years of service (who currently lose most or all 00:06:06.257 --> 00:06:08.447 retired pay under VA offset rules). 00:06:08.716 --> 00:06:10.836 In practice, passage of H.R. 00:06:10.836 --> 00:06:16.296 333 would increase monthly paychecks for many disabled retirees, effectively 00:06:16.296 --> 00:06:20.406 ending the so-called “Disabled Veterans Tax” for lower-rated retirees. 00:06:21.006 --> 00:06:25.636 (This change affects retired pay directly; it does not alter the total compensation 00:06:25.636 --> 00:06:27.846 cap but redistributes existing funds.). 00:06:28.244 --> 00:06:28.939 H.R. 00:06:28.939 --> 00:06:35.634 3944 (MilCon/VA Appropriations Act, 2026): As noted above, this appropriations 00:06:35.634 --> 00:06:40.024 bill (passed by the House on June 25) fully funds military construction 00:06:40.064 --> 00:06:43.864 and family housing projects for all service branches, including the Reserves 00:06:43.864 --> 00:06:48.034 and Guard, as well as all VA medical care and veterans’ benefits programs. 00:06:48.329 --> 00:06:52.549 If enacted, it would guarantee 2026 funding for thousands of ongoing 00:06:52.549 --> 00:06:56.269 base realignment projects and medical facility maintenance programs 00:06:56.469 --> 00:07:00.039 (which indirectly benefit military retirees in those communities). 00:07:00.454 --> 00:07:00.989 S. 00:07:00.989 --> 00:07:05.774 1068 (Putting Veterans First Act of 2025): Although primarily focused 00:07:05.774 --> 00:07:08.604 on veterans and VA employees, S.1068 00:07:08.604 --> 00:07:10.534 would also impact federal personnel. 00:07:10.824 --> 00:07:14.904 It includes provisions to reinstate any VA (and certain other) employees who 00:07:14.904 --> 00:07:18.734 were fired during the recent proposed reorganization of the VA and related 00:07:18.734 --> 00:07:22.924 agencies, and prohibits further VA office closures or service reductions 00:07:22.924 --> 00:07:24.314 without congressional approval. 00:07:24.724 --> 00:07:26.394 In effect, S.1068 00:07:26.394 --> 00:07:30.124 would protect current federal (VA) employees’ jobs and ensure 00:07:30.124 --> 00:07:31.854 continuity of benefits programs. 00:07:32.124 --> 00:07:36.214 For retirees, it would guarantee that promised VA services are maintained. 00:07:36.497 --> 00:07:40.147 Other pending bills: Several House veterans’ bills passed out of committee 00:07:40.147 --> 00:07:42.827 may indirectly affect retiree services. 00:07:43.217 --> 00:07:44.672 For example, H.R. 00:07:44.672 --> 00:07:48.957 1815 (VA Home Loan Program Reform Act) would help veterans avoid 00:07:48.957 --> 00:07:51.417 foreclosure on VA-guaranteed home loans. 00:07:51.786 --> 00:07:52.446 H.R. 00:07:52.446 --> 00:07:57.106 217 (CHIP IN Act) would expand a pilot allowing states and private entities to 00:07:57.106 --> 00:07:59.356 donate property or facilities to the VA. 00:07:59.634 --> 00:08:03.524 These change veteran access to benefits (which can help financially-stressed 00:08:03.614 --> 00:08:06.054 retirees) but do not change federal pay. 00:08:06.444 --> 00:08:07.779 Another bill, H.R. 00:08:07.779 --> 00:08:12.294 1041 (Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act), prevents VA from sending certain 00:08:12.294 --> 00:08:16.724 veteran data to the gun background-check system; its main effect is to protect gun 00:08:16.724 --> 00:08:21.624 rights for veterans (including retirees) rather than pay or retirement benefits. 00:08:21.829 --> 00:08:23.759 Issues That Affect Veteran’s Affairs 00:08:24.052 --> 00:08:27.352 News in the veterans’ community has focused on both policy debates 00:08:27.432 --> 00:08:31.152 and legislation affecting veterans’ health and benefits (especially 00:08:31.152 --> 00:08:33.022 disabled veterans and their families). 00:08:33.502 --> 00:08:36.702 A major headline was the proposed Elimination of Veteran SNAP 00:08:36.702 --> 00:08:38.752 Exemptions in federal welfare reform. 00:08:39.382 --> 00:08:43.012 As part of the same budget reconciliation debate, Congress is considering 00:08:43.012 --> 00:08:46.852 rescinding an existing exemption that allows disabled veterans and certain 00:08:46.852 --> 00:08:50.452 active-duty families to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance 00:08:50.452 --> 00:08:53.212 Program (SNAP) benefits above a cutoff. 00:08:53.722 --> 00:08:58.412 If implemented, this change would cut or end SNAP for many low-income disabled 00:08:58.412 --> 00:09:02.352 veterans and active-duty families, as noted by veterans’ advocacy groups. 00:09:02.766 --> 00:09:07.176 Public and political backlash has been strong: on June 30, Stars & Stripes 00:09:07.176 --> 00:09:10.726 reported disabled-veteran advocates warning “we won’t be able to make ends 00:09:10.726 --> 00:09:12.406 meet” if the exemption is removed. 00:09:12.741 --> 00:09:17.021 Pentagon leaders also emphasize that troop pay raises and housing allowances 00:09:17.021 --> 00:09:19.031 will mitigate hardship (see above). 00:09:19.352 --> 00:09:24.222 As of July 5, this SNAP change is still under negotiation in the Senate; advocacy 00:09:24.222 --> 00:09:27.942 groups urge Congress to preserve the exemption for combat-disabled vets. 00:09:28.262 --> 00:09:31.202 Beyond SNAP, several legislative efforts aim to improve 00:09:31.202 --> 00:09:32.812 veterans’ services and rights: 00:09:33.114 --> 00:09:33.634 S. 00:09:33.634 --> 00:09:39.464 1068 – Putting Veterans First Act: (Already noted) if enacted, would reverse 00:09:39.464 --> 00:09:41.454 much of the Trump-appointed VA overhaul. 00:09:41.994 --> 00:09:46.174 In addition to reinstating fired VA employees, it explicitly requires the 00:09:46.174 --> 00:09:50.824 VA to prioritize veterans’ health and benefits over any cost-cutting measures. 00:09:51.334 --> 00:09:54.914 This bipartisan bill would bolster funding and oversight for veterans’ 00:09:54.914 --> 00:09:59.404 programs and ensure fired VA doctors or claims processors are rehired. 00:09:59.924 --> 00:10:04.844 It has not yet received a vote, but it is a flagship Senate VA-democratic proposal. 00:10:05.112 --> 00:10:05.727 H.R. 00:10:05.727 --> 00:10:11.102 740 – Veterans’ ACCESS Act (2025): Passed in House Veterans’ Affairs 00:10:11.102 --> 00:10:15.412 Committee on June 18, this bill would reinforce veterans’ choice of care. 00:10:15.802 --> 00:10:19.532 It codifies the principle that community (non-VA) health care 00:10:19.532 --> 00:10:23.002 is a right for veterans when VA facilities are overloaded. 00:10:23.482 --> 00:10:27.132 In practice, the ACCESS Act would require the VA to treat community-based 00:10:27.212 --> 00:10:31.342 providers “as VA care,” ensuring veterans can receive timely 00:10:31.342 --> 00:10:32.942 appointments with private doctors. 00:10:33.412 --> 00:10:37.092 Its supporters say it fixes problems in the MISSION Act implementation. 00:10:37.502 --> 00:10:38.242 (Congress.gov 00:10:38.242 --> 00:10:40.112 has not published the official summary yet.) 00:10:40.499 --> 00:10:41.074 H.R. 00:10:41.074 --> 00:10:45.849 472 – Restore VA Accountability Act of 2025: Also under House 00:10:45.849 --> 00:10:49.519 consideration, this bill would ease the process of firing underperforming 00:10:49.519 --> 00:10:53.549 VA employees (for instance, shortening appeals and grievance timelines). 00:10:53.933 --> 00:10:57.413 The goal is to improve VA accountability and service quality. 00:10:57.763 --> 00:11:01.873 If passed, it would affect current VA staff by making it simpler to demote or 00:11:01.873 --> 00:11:05.963 remove them for misconduct, potentially improving veterans’ care indirectly. 00:11:06.323 --> 00:11:10.643 Currently, many veterans with fiduciaries (often those with severe injuries 00:11:10.643 --> 00:11:14.953 or illnesses) are automatically flagged as potentially “dangerous,” 00:11:15.203 --> 00:11:16.533 restricting their gun rights. 00:11:16.983 --> 00:11:17.853 If H.R. 00:11:17.853 --> 00:11:22.563 1041 becomes law, those veterans (including retirees) would not be 00:11:22.563 --> 00:11:26.763 reported to NICS unless a court specifically finds they are a danger. 00:11:27.203 --> 00:11:29.883 This bill passed the House Veterans Committee and awaits full 00:11:29.883 --> 00:11:33.713 House action; it chiefly affects veterans’ rights, not their pay. 00:11:33.998 --> 00:11:34.733 H.R. 00:11:34.733 --> 00:11:39.628 1969 – No Wrong Door for Veterans Act: Passed by the House on June 24, 00:11:39.828 --> 00:11:44.248 this bill reauthorizes and expands a VA suicide prevention grants program 00:11:44.538 --> 00:11:48.678 (the “Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program”). 00:11:49.038 --> 00:11:51.828 It increases funding limits for community suicide-prevention 00:11:51.828 --> 00:11:55.258 grants, improves mental-health screening protocols, and requires 00:11:55.328 --> 00:11:57.228 annual VA briefings on the program. 00:11:57.613 --> 00:12:02.373 By bolstering suicide prevention services, this law (if enacted) would improve 00:12:02.373 --> 00:12:06.453 care for veterans and their families, especially those not enrolled in VA. 00:12:06.691 --> 00:12:07.336 H.R. 00:12:07.336 --> 00:12:12.381 1815 – VA Home Loan Program Reform Act: This House-passed bill allows the VA 00:12:12.381 --> 00:12:16.571 to intervene earlier in cases of loan default on VA-guaranteed home mortgages. 00:12:16.902 --> 00:12:20.562 It authorizes the VA to pay lenders enough to prevent foreclosure (in 00:12:20.562 --> 00:12:24.112 exchange for a secured interest) and establishes a new partial-claim 00:12:24.112 --> 00:12:25.962 program to rescue loans at risk. 00:12:26.369 --> 00:12:28.899 The effect for veterans is more protections against losing 00:12:28.899 --> 00:12:30.519 their homes under VA loans. 00:12:30.949 --> 00:12:34.359 This benefits many retired and disabled veterans who depend 00:12:34.359 --> 00:12:36.119 on the VA home loan guarantee. 00:12:36.616 --> 00:12:37.471 H.R. 00:12:37.471 --> 00:12:43.136 217 – CHIP IN for Veterans Act: Passed by the House on May 15, this act 00:12:43.136 --> 00:12:46.986 makes permanent a pilot program in which state or private entities donate 00:12:46.986 --> 00:12:48.796 property or facilities to the VA. 00:12:49.114 --> 00:12:52.474 By allowing unlimited donations (removing previous caps), it 00:12:52.474 --> 00:12:54.904 could expand VA resources (e.g. 00:12:54.934 --> 00:12:58.284 new clinics or housing) at no cost to taxpayers. 00:12:59.024 --> 00:13:03.084 Veterans’ services – including retirees’ benefits clinics – could potentially 00:13:03.084 --> 00:13:05.234 gain additional locations or amenities. 00:13:05.777 --> 00:13:06.392 H.R. 00:13:06.392 --> 00:13:11.727 2201 – Improving VA Training for Military Sexual Trauma: Reportedly reported 00:13:11.727 --> 00:13:16.207 out by committee on May 6, this bill would expand VA training requirements 00:13:16.427 --> 00:13:21.297 to improve how VA staff handle claims of military sexual trauma (MST). 00:13:21.647 --> 00:13:25.657 It aims to reduce MST-related claims denials through better adjudication. 00:13:26.117 --> 00:13:29.297 (A CBO cost estimate was released, but the bill has not 00:13:29.327 --> 00:13:30.747 reached a full House vote yet.) 00:13:31.205 --> 00:13:34.145 Other bills: Notable measures advanced in committee include: 00:13:34.713 --> 00:13:35.408 H.R. 00:13:35.408 --> 00:13:39.473 1364 (SHIP Act) to improve VA mental health; H.R. 00:13:39.473 --> 00:13:44.448 1147 (I-VETS Act) to appoint an Accessibility Advisory Committee; H.R. 00:13:44.448 --> 00:13:47.643 1286 to simplify VA forms; H.R. 00:13:47.643 --> 00:13:51.973 1823 to require reporting on VA budget shortfalls; and H.R. 00:13:51.973 --> 00:13:55.353 1578 to create a VA claims education academy. 00:13:55.773 --> 00:13:58.453 These have not yet been enacted but reflect Congress’s 00:13:58.533 --> 00:14:00.273 priorities on veteran services. 00:14:00.545 --> 00:14:04.155 In addition to legislation, executive agency news included reminders 00:14:04.155 --> 00:14:06.535 about benefit administration: e.g., 00:14:06.565 --> 00:14:10.845 the VA urged veterans still receiving paper checks to switch to direct deposit 00:14:11.315 --> 00:14:15.275 (though this reminder came in late June), and DFAS highlighted upcoming 00:14:15.275 --> 00:14:21.105 changes to ID cards (New Real ID “USID” for retirees) and payment processes. 00:14:21.427 --> 00:14:22.987 And that's your Weekly Briefing. 00:14:23.467 --> 00:14:26.917 Staying on top of these changes is key to navigating your career, 00:14:27.077 --> 00:14:28.977 your retirement, and your benefits. 00:14:29.295 --> 00:14:30.275 Thank you for tuning in. 00:14:30.765 --> 00:14:34.595 Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, so you never miss an update. 00:14:35.125 --> 00:14:38.245 We’ll be back next week with another roundup of the news that matters most 00:14:38.245 --> 00:14:40.115 to the military and veteran community.