Edward: Welcome to the Mil Weekly Briefing, 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
Troop Deployment Amid Domestic Unrest: President Donald Trump federalized
over 2,000 California National Guard members and deployed 700 U.S.
Marines to Los Angeles to protect federal facilities during widespread
immigration policy protests.
This move, starting June 7, came amid significant unrest
following immigration raids.
Armed troops, under strict rules of engagement, focused on defending
property, not law enforcement.
Governor Gavin Newsom challenged the action in court, calling
it unlawful militarization.
Despite protests and curfews, a federal court initially permitted the deployment.
Pentagon leaders emphasized that military involvement was for federal
protection only, not civil policing.
This rare domestic deployment raised concerns over federal authority
and civil-military boundaries.
Defense Leadership Cuts: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a 20%
cut in four-star positions and a 10% reduction in general/flag officers.
The National Guard Bureau will eliminate one-fifth of top officer roles.
This move aligns with a drive to streamline military
leadership and reduce overhead.
However, critics argue it may be politically motivated and damage
morale by purging experienced leaders.
The changes could affect promotions, command structure, and military programs,
leading to a period of transition.
Policy on Transgender Service Members: The Pentagon began separating service
members with gender dysphoria, following a January executive order.
Members had until June 6 to voluntarily separate or face involuntary discharge.
Those who came forward received separation pay.
The policy, citing readiness and unit cohesion, drew criticism from
LGBT advocates and some commanders.
Legal challenges are expected, and reserve members have until early
July before facing similar policies.
Defense Budget and Pay: The House advanced the FY2026
defense budget, proposing a 3.8%
pay raise starting in January for active-duty personnel.
Junior troops may receive about $1200 more annually, and
officers could see up to $2,500.
The budget also includes measures to slow PCS moves and
reduce the civilian workforce.
Some controversial provisions, such as limits on reproductive health
travel reimbursements, were included.
Senate lawmakers expressed concern over lagging budget details.
Service members await the final budget outcome, which will shape their
pay, benefits, and quality of life.
Training Incidents and Overseas Deployments: Sgt.
Aaron Cox, 24, of the 101st Airborne Division, died in a training accident in
Hungary during Exercise Saber Guardian 25.
Another soldier was injured.
The Army is investigating.
U.S.
forces continued deployments in Eastern Europe and the
Asia-Pacific, while maintaining alert status in Iraq and Syria.
Reserve troops proceeded with June training, including short-notice missions
like the deployment to California.
These developments underscore the risks and demands of military service.
Issues That Affect Retired Military
Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Billing Delay: DFAS postponed a shift
from Treasury-managed SBP premium payments to DFAS-managed billing.
This affects retirees who pay directly rather than through
retirement pay deductions.
Retirees should continue using the current system until further notice.
DFAS will provide detailed instructions before implementing the change,
expected later in the summer.
Military retiree groups supported the delay, ensuring no loss of coverage.
TRICARE Updates and Health Costs: Retirees saw modest TRICARE Prime
and Select fee increases in 2025.
Annual Prime family premiums rose to $744.
Co-pays also increased slightly.
New regional contractors caused some prescription access issues.
The VA announced upcoming reductions in VA life insurance premiums starting in July.
Retiree advocacy groups are pushing for smoother transitions
and clearer communication to prevent service disruptions.
Retiree Legislation and Tax Relief: Congress is considering
bills like the Major Richard Star Act to expand concurrent receipt
for combat-injured veterans.
Though no laws passed this week, momentum continues.
States including Michigan and New York are advancing laws to exempt
military retirement pay from taxes.
Over 30 states now offer full or partial tax relief.
Military retirees are encouraged to monitor changes, which can
significantly affect post-service finances and relocation plans.
Customer Service Enhancements: DFAS introduced tools on its website
to allow retirees to download tax forms and submit inquiries online.
The "AskDFAS" portal received positive feedback for reducing wait times.
The VA promoted its expanded digital services, including the
VA Health and Benefits app, which allows users to manage healthcare,
view payments, and access claims.
These tools aim to improve accessibility and ease
interactions with benefit systems.
Webinars and help lines are also assisting less tech-savvy retirees.
Issues That Affect Veteransâ Affairs (VA) and Veteransâ Services
VA App Reaches 3 Million Downloads: The VA Health and Benefits mobile app
surpassed 3 million downloads, with 1.4
million active users.
It enables veterans to refill prescriptions, manage claims, access
payments, and use a digital VA ID card.
Officials praised the appâs role in enhancing convenience
and reducing office visits.
Continuous updates based on feedback are planned to further
improve user experience.
Legislation to Improve VA Claims and Appeals: House Veteransâ Affairs Committee
Chair Mike Bost introduced several bills:
H.R.
3835: Veterans Appeals Efficiency Act to reduce delays and remands.
H.R.
3834: Protecting Veteranâs Claim Options Act to ensure veterans donât
lose effective dates when appealing.
H.R.
3833: Veteransâ Caregiver Appeals Modernization Act for
fair review of denied stipends.
H.R.
3854: Modernizing Claims Processing with AI to tackle backlogs.
These bipartisan efforts aim to improve timeliness and fairness in the VA system.
New VA Legal Aid Grants: On June 11, the VA announced $42 million in
grants for community organizations aiding homeless veterans.
These funds will support legal services to help veterans avoid eviction, resolve
civil issues, and remove housing barriers.
Although announced after this reporting week, planning occurred in early June.
This continues the VAâs push to end veteran homelessness, especially
in cities like Los Angeles.
Oversight on VA Programs and Staffing: Congress prepared for oversight hearings
on the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and concerns about its effectiveness
in helping separating service members.
Lawmakers also reviewed VA budget shortfalls and staffing issues due to
expanded eligibility under the PACT Act.
Reports by the GAO and VA Inspector General highlighted infrastructure
concerns and quality inconsistencies.
The VA is finalizing its return-to-office policy to improve service accessibility,
but unions raised retention concerns.
Second Amendment Legislation and Federal Retirement Issues:
H.R.
1041: Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act would bar the VA from reporting
beneficiaries to the firearm background check system solely due to having a
fiduciary, unless ruled by a judge.
The bill advanced in the House.
Budget talks in the Senate addressed House-proposed federal
pension cuts, especially affecting veterans in civil service.
The Senate aimed to soften these measures but debated options like
increased pension contributions for new hires in exchange for job protections.
Veteran groups are lobbying to protect current and future
federal retirement benefits.
And that's your Weekly Briefing.
Staying on top of these changes is key to navigating your career,
your retirement, and your benefits.
Thank you for tuning in.
Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, so you never miss an update.
Weâll be back next week with another roundup of the news that matters most
to the military and veteran community.