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Edward: Welcome to the MIL News Weekly
for 2-8 November 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 most pressing issue for active and
reserve military personnel during the

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week of November 2 through November
8, 2025, remained the precarious

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status of military pay due to the
protracted government shutdown.

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While service members did receive their
scheduled end-of-the-month pay on November

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1, the method used by the administration
to secure those funds created severe

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uncertainty regarding future paychecks.

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The Department of Defense
(DoD) secured $5.3

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billion to cover the November 1
payroll, an extraordinary measure

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achieved by pulling resources from
three distinct and vital accounts: $2.5

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billion originated from the One
Big Beautiful Bill Act funds, $1.4

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billion was diverted from the DoD’s
procurement account, and another $1.4

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billion was sourced from the
department’s research, development,

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test, and evaluation (RDT&E) funds.

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This successful yet highly criticized
maneuver, achieved despite the

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shutdown, satisfied the commitment to
pay troops for the first of November.

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However, the funds tapped for
this payment are generally

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understood to have been exhausted.

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This fact prompted public concern
from officials, including Treasury

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Secretary Scott Bessent, who stated
publicly on October 26, 2025, that

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it was doubtful service members
would receive their mid-month pay on

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November 15 unless Congress reached a
resolution to end the funding lapse.

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This leaves the immediate financial
stability of the force contingent

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upon legislative action, creating
immense internal anxiety.

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The direct impact of missed pay is only
one facet of the crisis confronting

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military families; a broader, more
insidious threat to financial readiness

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is unfolding across the force,
threatening retention and morale.

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At The Hill’s Veteran Voices Summit
on November 6, 2025, advocates

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characterized the shutdown’s
overall effect as “disastrous” for

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active-duty members and their families.

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First, many military households rely on
the income of spouses who are federal

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government workers, and those spouses
have experienced furloughs and lost

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paychecks since October 1, effectively
cutting household income dramatically.

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Second, the ongoing funding lapse
threatened the Supplemental Nutrition

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Assistance Program (SNAP), a program
relied upon by approximately 1.2

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million veterans and their households.

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Although a federal judge's ruling ensured
partial funding for the program in

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November, the initial threat of a lapse
caused a surge in military families

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seeking assistance from food banks.

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Compounding these financial stresses are
severe logistical disruptions related to

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Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves.

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As the Pentagon prioritized only
essential activities during the shutdown,

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the PCS process has stalled for many
families, causing delays in travel,

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shipments, and housing arrangements.

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Numerous accounts surfaced this week
detailing the crisis of being caught

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mid-move, including families who signed
leases at their new duty stations based

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on official orders that were subsequently
placed in limbo due to the inability

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to schedule household goods pickup.

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The resultant financial strain means
that many families are faced with the

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possibility of having to pay rent or
mortgages on two different residences

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simultaneously, with one military
spouse noting the complete lack of

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communication from agencies on how
to lessen this unexpected burden.

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The combined effect of spousal
unemployment, food insecurity

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concerns, and PCS chaos elevates the
budget impasse into a fundamental

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quality-of-life and readiness
crisis for the All-Volunteer Force.

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Acquisition Overhaul and
Defense Policy Shifts

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Beyond the immediate financial struggles,
the Department of Defense (DoD) signaled

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a radical shift in its long-term
operational and contracting philosophy

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during the first week of November 2025.

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In a major address delivered to
defense industry representatives on

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November 7, 2025, at the National War
College, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth

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announced that “The defense acquisition
system as you know it is dead”.

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The speech promised an “unrelenting
onslaught” of reforms intended to

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completely upend the bureaucracy and
speed up the delivery of capabilities

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to the warfighter, telling contractors
they must adapt or “fade away”.

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This push for radical speed is
being driven largely by Deputy

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Secretary of Defense Steve Feinberg,
focusing on improving the timeline

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for major capability delivery.

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Key initiatives include imposing
a "two-to-production standard" and

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emphasizing scalable production
strategies, notably through the adoption

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of Modular Open Systems Approaches (MOSA).

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These approaches are designed to
increase the number of qualified sources

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for systems and modular components,
fostering competition, reducing supply

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chain bottlenecks, and decreasing
reliance on single-source suppliers.

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While lawmakers, including Rep.

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Donald Norcross and Sen.

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Tim Sheehy, expressed encouragement
regarding Hegseth's engagement on

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acquisition reform, the key challenge
remains successful implementation and

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adequate resourcing over the coming years.

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Simultaneously, the DoD is
formalizing crucial policy

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regarding industrial base security.

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The final rule implementing the
Cybersecurity Maturity Model

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Certification (CMMC) program is set to
begin its phased, three-year rollout

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on November 10, 2025, immediately
following this reporting period.

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This program marks a major shift by moving
away from contractor self-assessment

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to mandatory third-party verification
for most defense contractors who handle

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Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

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For Reserve Component service members
who work as subcontractors in the

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defense industry, this has immediate
professional implications: higher-tier

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contractors are now required to confirm
that any subcontractor possesses a

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“current CMMC status” appropriate
for the information being flowed

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down prior to awarding a subcontract.

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Contractors must also remain
fully compliant with the

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long-standing DFARS 252.205-7012

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requirement to report cyber incidents
within 72 hours of discovery.

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Separately, on November 5, 2025,
the Defense Security Cooperation

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Agency (DSCA) updated its security
assistance management policy, posting

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Policy Memo 25-86 to revise Generic
Codes in Appendix 4 of the Security

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Assistance Management Manual (SAMM).

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This aims to synchronize data within the
Defense Security Assistance Management

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System and improve the categorization
of defense articles and services related

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to budget activity codes for missiles,
ammunition, communications equipment,

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supply operations, and special activities.

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Quality-of-Life Initiatives
and Legislative Action

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Even with the shutdown severely
curtailing many operations, the DoD

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has continued to advance Quality of
Life (QoL) initiatives intended to

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address chronic readiness challenges.

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These initiatives aim to provide
stability to service members and their

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families by establishing Health Care
Flexible Spending Accounts (HCFSA)

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for service members and decreasing the
financial cost burden associated with

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Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves.

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Furthermore, the DoD is expanding
professional development and spouse

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employment opportunities through
the My Career Advancement Account

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(MyCAA) program and actively
working to improve QoL conditions at

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remote and isolated installations.

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In Congress, lawmakers continue
to push for substantial structural

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compensation changes in the 2025 National
Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

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A key proposal seeks a significant 15% pay
raise for junior enlisted service members

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(E-1 through E-4) to ensure military
pay remains competitive with civilian

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earnings, particularly for those with high
school diplomas or some college education.

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Additionally, lawmakers are advocating
for the Pentagon to return the Basic

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Allowance for Housing (BAH) coverage
to 100% of estimated costs, increasing

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it from the current 95% coverage level.

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Legislative Update: S.

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3012, The Shutdown Fairness Act

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A crucial legislative effort addressing
the financial uncertainty of active-duty

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personnel failed in the Senate this week.

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On November 7, 2025, the Senate failed
to invoke cloture on a motion to

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proceed to the consideration of S.

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3012, the Shutdown Fairness
Act, by a recorded vote of

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53–43 (Record Vote Number: 609).

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S.

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3012 was introduced with the primary
intent of providing appropriations to

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pay federal employees, including members
of the Armed Forces on active duty,

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who are deemed "excepted" and required
to work during a government shutdown.

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The bill’s passage would have legally
guaranteed the pay and allowances

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for active-duty service members,
removing the administration's reliance

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on drawing emergency funds from
defense programs to meet payroll.

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The failure of this measure leaves
the financial security of the active

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force highly vulnerable ahead of the
November 15 pay date, maintaining

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pressure on Congress to resolve the
underlying appropriations crisis.

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Issues That Affect
Retired Military Personnel

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Retired military personnel and
federal annuitants received reassuring

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confirmation regarding payment
security this week, alongside the

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official announcement of the 2026
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).

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The Office of Personnel Management
(OPM) confirmed that the ongoing

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government shutdown does not
impact scheduled annuity payments.

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Federal retirees covered under the
Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)

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and the Federal Employees Retirement
System (FERS) continue to receive

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their scheduled annuity payments on
the first business day of the month.

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Likewise, the Defense Finance and
Accounting Service (DFAS) confirmed

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that Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)
annuitants received their scheduled

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payments on November 3, 2025.

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This demonstrates that the established
trust funds and administrative

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mechanisms for these annuities are
insulated from the political volatility

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of the appropriations process.

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The official announcement of the 2026
Cost-of-Living Adjustment, based on the

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Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Urban
Wage Earners and Clerical Workers,

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revealed a persistent structural
disparity between retirement systems.

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This disparity is especially critical
as inflation remains elevated, with

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2026 marking the fifth consecutive
year the COLA adjustment has been 2.5

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percent or higher.

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Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS)
Retirees annuities will increase by 2.8

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percent.

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This adjustment aligns with the
full Social Security COLA increase.

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Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)
Retirees annuities will increase by 2.0

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percent.

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The difference in COLA rates means that
FERS retirees, who include a substantial

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portion of veterans and former military
personnel who transitioned to civilian

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service, face a mandated reduction
in their cost-of-living increase

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when inflation exceeds 2 percent.

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This structural inequity directly
impacts the purchasing power of their

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annuities relative to CSRS retirees.

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Consequently, the National Treasury
Employees Union (NTEU) utilized the

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announcement this week to renew calls for
the passage of the Equal COLA Act (H.R.

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491 and S.

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624).

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This legislation seeks to eliminate
the COLA disparity between FERS and

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CSRS retirees, ensuring that all
federal annuitants receive the full

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cost-of-living adjustment when inflation
exceeds the 2 percent threshold.

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Benefits Enrollment
and Health Plan Changes

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The first week of November marked the
crucial precursor to the annual Open

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Season for health benefits, signaling
major upcoming changes for retired

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military personnel and federal annuitants.

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TRICARE Open Season, the annual period
allowing beneficiaries to enroll or

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make changes to their TRICARE Prime or
TRICARE Select plans, is scheduled to

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begin on Monday, November 10, 2025, and
run through Tuesday, December 9, 2025.

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Similarly, the Office of Personnel
Management (OPM) announced that the 2025

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Federal Benefits Open Season, covering
the Federal Employees Health Benefits

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(FEHB) Program, Postal Service Health
Benefits (PSHB) Program, and Federal

00:12:24.673 --> 00:12:29.163
Employees Dental and Vision Insurance
Program (FEDVIP), will be held from

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November 10 through December 8, 2025.

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Annuitants are strongly encouraged to
review their coverage, as this is the

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only period outside of qualifying life
events when they can make coverage

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changes for the upcoming year.

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On November 7, 2025, TRICARE
Communications announced that

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beneficiaries should review their
2026 health plan costs, noting that

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enrollment fees, premiums, cost-shares,
and copayments will change starting

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January 1, 2026, based on law and the
federal cost of living adjustment.

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OPM added that for 2026, six FEHB plans,
one PSHB plan, and one FEDVIP plan

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will no longer be available, meaning
enrollees in these specific plans must

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select new coverage during Open Season.

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An important regional contract change
is also slated for the 2026 plan year.

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The start of healthcare delivery
under TRICARE's new regional contracts

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will shift six states—Arkansas,
Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma,

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Texas, and Wisconsin—from the
East Region to the West Region.

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For beneficiaries in these transitioning
states who pay their TRICARE coverage via

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electronic funds transfer, it is mandatory
to provide recurring payment information

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to TriWest Healthcare Alliance by January
1, 2026, to ensure continuous coverage.

00:13:47.326 --> 00:13:49.206
Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs

00:13:49.569 --> 00:13:53.299
The news cycle for veterans this week
was dominated by a mix of payment

00:13:53.299 --> 00:13:57.719
security assurances, major policy
debates over presumptive conditions, and

00:13:57.719 --> 00:14:01.799
the pending overhaul of how disability
claims are rated in the coming year.

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This section focuses specifically
on issues pertinent to disabled

00:14:05.829 --> 00:14:07.549
veterans and their related benefits.

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VA Disability Compensation:
Payment Security and Rate Revisions

00:14:12.103 --> 00:14:15.723
The Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) provided consistent reassurance

00:14:15.723 --> 00:14:20.263
during the shutdown, confirming that VA
benefits—including compensation, pension,

00:14:20.333 --> 00:14:24.823
education, and housing benefits—continue
to be processed and delivered despite

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the ongoing lapse in appropriations.

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For November 2025, the standard
payment date is the last

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business day of the month.

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Because November 30 falls on a weekend,
the November disability payments

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will be made on December 1, 2025.

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Veterans’ monthly disability
compensation rates reflect a 2.5%

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Cost-of-Living Adjustment
(COLA) effective for 2025.

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This adjustment provides a modest
increase in monthly payments,

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ranging from approximately $4.28

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per month for a veteran with a
10% disability rating to $93.45

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per month for a veteran rated
at 100% without dependents.

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While the COLA ensures benefits keep pace
with inflation, a far more significant

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issue for disabled veterans is the
forthcoming structural change to VA

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disability rating criteria, slated
for implementation in 2025, which

00:15:12.687 --> 00:15:16.087
will drastically alter how certain
common conditions are evaluated.

00:15:16.657 --> 00:15:20.317
These changes are intended to streamline
claims processing, but they may

00:15:20.317 --> 00:15:24.047
result in substantially different
compensation levels for some veterans.

00:15:24.409 --> 00:15:27.259
Key changes to the 2025
rating criteria include

00:15:27.604 --> 00:15:31.404
:    The VA is introducing more objective
mental health rating criteria.

00:15:31.834 --> 00:15:36.614
The evaluation will shift focus from the
veteran’s social or occupational impact to

00:15:36.614 --> 00:15:38.714
the objective severity of their symptoms.

00:15:39.164 --> 00:15:43.064
The intent is to achieve greater
consistency in claims evaluation, which

00:15:43.064 --> 00:15:46.684
may lead to higher ratings for veterans
with extremely severe symptoms but

00:15:46.684 --> 00:15:48.644
potentially tighter scrutiny for others.

00:15:49.023 --> 00:15:52.253
The criteria for sleep apnea are
becoming significantly stricter.

00:15:52.763 --> 00:15:56.803
Under the updated system, veterans using
a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure

00:15:56.833 --> 00:16:01.213
(CPAP) machine may now only receive a
10% rating, which marks a significant

00:16:01.213 --> 00:16:05.133
reduction from the current 50% rating
typically awarded for CPAP usage.

00:16:05.489 --> 00:16:09.149
The VA is moving to eliminate standalone
ratings for tinnitus, a condition

00:16:09.149 --> 00:16:13.279
that previously qualified veterans
for a separate 10% disability rating.

00:16:13.692 --> 00:16:17.272
The implications of these rating
changes are substantial, requiring

00:16:17.272 --> 00:16:21.252
veterans currently receiving benefits
or planning to file claims to

00:16:21.282 --> 00:16:23.372
understand the new objective guidelines.

00:16:23.922 --> 00:16:28.772
Concurrently, the VA is rolling out modern
technology, including AI-assisted claim

00:16:28.772 --> 00:16:32.812
reviews and improved online tracking
systems, as part of an effort to reduce

00:16:32.812 --> 00:16:36.982
the persistent backlogs and accelerate
the overall claim decision timeline.

00:16:37.357 --> 00:16:39.847
PACT Act Controversy and
Congressional Oversight

00:16:40.179 --> 00:16:43.149
A major point of conflict and
concern emerged this week regarding

00:16:43.149 --> 00:16:45.799
the integrity of presumptive
conditions under the PACT Act.

00:16:46.319 --> 00:16:50.779
On November 6, 2025, reports highlighted
controversy over the VA's reported

00:16:50.779 --> 00:16:54.049
decision to remove male breast
cancer from the list of presumptive

00:16:54.049 --> 00:16:55.929
conditions covered under the PACT Act.

00:16:56.268 --> 00:16:59.238
This policy shift immediately
drew legislative scrutiny.

00:16:59.648 --> 00:17:02.928
House Veterans' Affairs Committee
Ranking Member Mark Takano led a letter

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demanding that VA Secretary Doug Collins
immediately reverse the decision.

00:17:07.948 --> 00:17:12.788
Lawmakers warned that a June 2025 VA
memo related to the change was issued

00:17:12.788 --> 00:17:16.668
to comply with a political executive
order, which they argued contradicted

00:17:16.668 --> 00:17:20.738
scientific evidence and violated the
intent of Congress to ensure timely

00:17:20.738 --> 00:17:22.968
care for toxic-exposed veterans.

00:17:23.498 --> 00:17:27.398
The members cautioned that redefining
eligibility based on ideology sets

00:17:27.438 --> 00:17:30.998
a “dangerous precedent” for future
veterans’ benefits decisions.

00:17:31.458 --> 00:17:36.008
The VA press secretary, Pete Kasperowicz,
publicly defended the agency's policy,

00:17:36.218 --> 00:17:39.568
stating that the VA would continue
to provide care and benefits to

00:17:39.568 --> 00:17:42.728
any veteran who could demonstrate a
service connection for the condition.

00:17:43.188 --> 00:17:47.288
In response to this controversy, separate
Senate legislation was introduced, aimed

00:17:47.288 --> 00:17:51.338
at requiring the VA to establish greater
transparency in the future when making

00:17:51.338 --> 00:17:53.218
decisions regarding benefit policy.

00:17:53.564 --> 00:17:55.804
Key Legislation Affecting
Disabled Veterans

00:17:56.072 --> 00:17:58.862
Congressional efforts targeting
the financial security and service

00:17:58.862 --> 00:18:02.912
capacity for disabled veterans saw
movement during this period, addressing

00:18:02.912 --> 00:18:06.512
long-standing grievances related to
compensation and medical staffing.

00:18:06.903 --> 00:18:09.383
The Disabled Veterans
Tax Termination Act, H.R.

00:18:09.383 --> 00:18:13.273
333, seeks to fundamentally
reform military retired

00:18:13.313 --> 00:18:16.853
pay provisions by expanding
eligibility for Concurrent Receipt.

00:18:17.393 --> 00:18:20.473
It was introduced in the
House on January 13, 2025.

00:18:20.934 --> 00:18:23.694
This bill addresses the
persistent financial inequity

00:18:23.694 --> 00:18:25.644
known as the "disability tax."

00:18:26.044 --> 00:18:27.434
If enacted, H.R.

00:18:27.434 --> 00:18:31.734
333 would authorize veterans with a
service-connected disability rating less

00:18:31.734 --> 00:18:36.614
than 50 percent to concurrently receive
both their military retired pay and

00:18:36.614 --> 00:18:40.654
their disability compensation, ending
the required dollar-for-dollar offset

00:18:40.754 --> 00:18:42.304
that currently applies to this group.

00:18:42.804 --> 00:18:46.384
Furthermore, the bill would extend
Concurrent Receipt eligibility

00:18:46.384 --> 00:18:50.414
to qualified disability retirees
who have less than 20 years of

00:18:50.414 --> 00:18:52.024
retirement-creditable service.

00:18:52.514 --> 00:18:56.514
This is a major effort to secure financial
fairness for a broader population of

00:18:56.514 --> 00:18:58.294
veterans injured during their service.

00:18:58.637 --> 00:19:01.107
The PRO Veterans Act of 2025, B.S.

00:19:01.107 --> 00:19:04.817
423, is a bipartisan bill
focusing on bolstering the

00:19:04.817 --> 00:19:06.617
workforce stability of the VA.

00:19:07.037 --> 00:19:10.877
The bill has successfully passed both
chambers, clearing the Senate on April

00:19:10.877 --> 00:19:14.347
8, 2025, and the House on July 21, 2025.

00:19:14.778 --> 00:19:17.538
This legislation is essential
for improving service delivery,

00:19:17.748 --> 00:19:19.228
particularly in medical fields.

00:19:19.668 --> 00:19:23.308
It authorizes the VA to provide a
critical skill incentive to senior-level

00:19:23.308 --> 00:19:27.518
employees on an individual basis, upon
approval by specified officers, such

00:19:27.518 --> 00:19:28.968
as the Under Secretary for Health.

00:19:29.518 --> 00:19:33.278
By allowing the VA to offer competitive
incentives, the bill aims to improve

00:19:33.278 --> 00:19:37.048
staffing and retention in critical
medical and administrative roles, which

00:19:37.048 --> 00:19:40.698
directly affects the speed and quality
of healthcare and benefits processing

00:19:40.698 --> 00:19:42.388
that disabled veterans receive.

00:19:42.781 --> 00:19:46.891
Ahead of Veterans Day on November
11, 2025, Congressman Mike Flood

00:19:46.951 --> 00:19:50.451
announced the introduction of the
Stamp Out Veterans Medical Debt Act.

00:19:50.805 --> 00:19:54.895
This legislation proposes an innovative
fundraising mechanism by directing the

00:19:54.895 --> 00:19:59.785
United States Postal Service (USPS)
to issue and sell a special stamp.

00:20:00.335 --> 00:20:04.035
The proceeds generated from the sale
of this stamp would be specifically

00:20:04.035 --> 00:20:07.175
earmarked to fund medical care
and treatment for veterans.

00:20:07.645 --> 00:20:11.125
Lawmakers supporting the bill
characterized it as a bipartisan

00:20:11.125 --> 00:20:14.745
solution intended to alleviate the
“crushing weight of medical debt,”

00:20:15.315 --> 00:20:18.665
thereby reinforcing the nation’s
commitment to supporting the recovery

00:20:18.665 --> 00:20:20.325
and financial stability of veterans.

00:20:20.626 --> 00:20:22.096
And that's your Weekly Briefing.

00:20:22.616 --> 00:20:26.476
Staying on top of these changes
is key to navigating your career,

00:20:26.606 --> 00:20:28.826
your retirement, and your benefits.

00:20:29.092 --> 00:20:30.072
Thank you for tuning in.

00:20:30.412 --> 00:20:34.262
Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your
podcasts, so you never miss an update.

00:20:34.732 --> 00:20:37.912
We’ll be back next week with another
roundup of the news that matters most

00:20:37.912 --> 00:20:39.802
to the military and veteran community.