Edward: Welcome to the MIL News Weekly for 14-20 September 2025, your essential
guide to the latest news impacting the military and veteran community.
Whether you're currently serving in uniform, a military retiree, a veteran,
or a family member, this is your source for the critical updates you need to know.
Each week, we cut through the noise to bring you the most important developments
from the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Weâll cover everything from new policies and pay raises affecting
active and reserve forces, to changes in healthcare and benefits for
retirees, and the latest on VA services and legislation for our veterans.
Let's get you informed.
Hereâs whatâs happened this past week.
Issues That Affect Active and Reserve Military Personnel
The Department of War Restoration: A New Name, a New Philosophy
The week was marked by the ongoing fallout and implementation of a historic
change initiated on September 5, 2025.
On that date, President Donald J.
Trump signed an Executive Order to restore the title "Department
of War" as a secondary designation for the Department of Defense.
This directive permits the Secretary of Defense, as well as department
officials, to utilize secondary titles such as "Secretary of War"
and "Department of War" in official correspondence, public communications,
and non-statutory documents.
The administration wasted no time in executing the order; the Pentagonâs
official X account was immediately rebranded, and the website was
redirected from defense.gov
to war.gov.
The rationale behind this move, as articulated by the President and
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, is to restore a name that they believe
reflects the militaryâs true purpose and signals a new national focus.
According to the White House, the name "Department of War" projects a stronger
message of readiness and resolve, emphasizing a willingness to wage war
to secure national interests rather than focusing solely on defensive capabilities.
Defense Secretary Hegseth added that the name change is not merely a rebranding
but a "restoring," arguing that the name change from "Department of War"
to the "Department of Defense" in 1947 preceded an era in which the United
States "haven't won a major war since".
Proponents contend that a Department of War will prioritize "maximum
lethality" and a "winning" attitude, aligning with a more aggressive posture.
The name change, however, is a profound political and philosophical declaration,
not a simple administrative change.
It signifies a public shift in rhetoric and national identity
regarding the military's role.
It frames the military's purpose in a specific, ideological context,
suggesting a return to what proponents view as "old days" of American
exceptionalism and power projection.
This approach could influence foreign policy by signaling a more aggressive,
less diplomatically-focused posture and may have significant effects
on recruitment and retention by appealing to a specific demographic
while potentially alienating others.
The debate is already playing out in Congress, where lawmakers
are divided on the matter.
While Rep.
Greg Steube, a Republican from Florida, introduced legislation to formalize the
change, Senator Mitch McConnell voiced disapproval, arguing that a focus on
investment is needed, not just rebranding, to ensure "peace through strength".
The administration's move to change the name via executive action,
while also instructing the Secretary to recommend legislative actions,
highlights the complex legal and political hurdles that remain for the
permanent name change to take effect.
Congressional Action on the FY26 NDAA and Military Quality of Life
Beyond the symbolic changes, Congress continued its work this week on
tangible issues impacting the lives of service members and their families.
The Senate has begun considering S.
2296, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026, a sweeping
bill that authorizes appropriations for military activities, military
construction, and prescribes military personnel strengths for the fiscal year.
As the foundational legislation that funds the military, the NDAA dictates
everything from new ship procurement to individual pay and benefits.
The sheer volume of amendments proposed indicates a strong legislative
focus on a wide range of issues.
Of particular note is an amendment offered by Senator Ernst that would require
the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct a study on casualty
assistance and long-term care programs.
This signals a concerted effort by lawmakers to address critical,
personal issues that affect military families for years to come.
These legislative efforts align with ongoing, quality-of-life initiatives
outlined by military leadership.
A report this week indicated that a review of enlisted uniform allowance rates is
expected to be finalized by the end of September 2025, and studies are ongoing
to evaluate the potential for increasing enlisted household goods Permanent
Change of Station (PCS) weight limits.
Furthermore, policies are being updated to increase Temporary Lodging
Expense (TLE) coverage from 14 to 21 days for moves within the continental
United States and to allow up to 60 days of Temporary Lodging Allowance
(TLA) for moves originating overseas.
These updates address a common source of financial and logistical stress for
service members and their families.
The legislative and administrative focus on these day-to-day concerns
demonstrates an understanding that a strong and ready military is
fundamentally built on its people.
Unaddressed quality-of-life issues, such as financial stress from moving
or poor living conditions, can lead to low morale and high attrition.
The focus on these issues reveals that the military is actively competing
for talent in the labor market.
Retaining skilled personnel is as critical to national security as
procuring a new weapons system.
The bipartisan Servicemember Residence Protection Act (H.R.
2334), which passed the House this week, is another example of this trend,
as it directly addresses a domestic concern that could impact a service
member's peace of mind and, by extension, their readiness while deployed.
Issues That Affect Retired Military Personnel
For retired military personnel and federal employees, the news this week
contained a mix of financial changes, some beneficial and others concerning.
A key development is the final implementation of an executive
order signed in March to end paper Social Security checks.
As of September 30, all recipients must have a direct deposit set up with a
bank or use a Direct Express prepaid debit card, with October marking the
first month without paper checks.
While this move is intended to modernize the system, it requires a
significant behavioral change for many retirees who rely on paper checks.
Another notable financial development is the Department of Education's
resumption of garnishing Social Security payments for defaulting student loans,
a practice that was paused in 2020.
The department announced plans to resume garnishments in the summer,
with up to 15% of benefits at risk.
This decision, alongside the end of paper checks, is part of a broader shift
toward tighter financial controls and a rollback of pandemic-era protections.
When looking at benefits, the news is a bit more nuanced.
Social Security benefits received a 2.5%
Cost-of-Living Adjustment, or COLA, for 2025, with analysts predicting a 2.7%
adjustment for the upcoming year.
This increase, however, may be offset by rising healthcare costs.
Medicare Part B premiums are estimated to increase by 11.5%
to $206.20
per month in 2026, up from the current $185.
For many retirees, Medicare premiums are automatically deducted from
their Social Security benefits.
This means that a significant portion, if not all, of their COLA increase
will be consumed by the rising cost of healthcare, leading to a de facto
reduction in their net monthly payments.
In terms of legislative efforts, a bill with potential benefits
for military retirees, the Putting Veterans First Act of 2025 (S.
1068), was introduced in the Senate.
The bill's stated purpose is to "put veteran and military families
first" and provide protections for federal employees who are also
members of the military community.
A key provision of the bill would reverse any removal, demotion, or
suspension of a veteran, military spouse, caregiver, or reserve component member
from civil service that occurred since January 20, 2025, and provide them
with back pay and restored benefits.
This legislation serves as a direct response to recent policy decisions
that have impacted federal employees, indicating a legislative effort to
check executive actions and protect the employment of those with military ties.
The bill also includes limitations on hiring freezes and office closures
at the Department of Veterans Affairs, which could provide greater
stability for the federal workforce.
Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs
A Landmark Week for Veterans Legislation in the House of Representatives
This week was marked by a flurry of legislative activity in the
House of Representatives, where the House Committee on Veterans'
Affairs passed 14 bipartisan bills.
The committee's chairman, Mike Bost, called the passage of
these bills "fourteen wins for veterans and their families".
This volume and diversity of legislation point to a powerful trend of targeted,
technology-driven solutions to persistent, systemic problems within the VA,
such as rural access, administrative backlog, and specialized care.
While the bills are not yet law, their passage out of the House
is a significant milestone.
Here is a summary of some of the key bills that passed the House and were
referred to the Senate for consideration:
H.R.
1107, the Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025:
This bill permanently authorizes VA health care professionals to use
telemedicine to deliver, distribute, or dispense controlled substances
to patients, regardless of whether the health care professional is
licensed in the patient's state.
This bill is a direct response to the perennial challenge of providing
consistent care to veterans across state lines, particularly for
those in rural or remote areas.
H.R.
2721, the Honoring Our Heroes Act of 2025: This legislation establishes a
two-year pilot program to furnish a headstone or burial marker to veterans
who died on or before November 1, 1990.
Previously, these benefits were only available to veterans who
died after that date, and this bill seeks to rectify that disparity.
H.R.
3481, the Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act of 2025: This bill
requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide a mechanism for
veterans to electronically send and receive correspondence related to
educational assistance benefits.
This will streamline communication, reduce reliance on postal mail, and modernize
the benefits administration process.
H.R.
3579, the Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity Act:
This bill aims to improve the Veterans Readiness and Employment program
by requiring veterans to submit their work and educational records
before their initial evaluation and by mandating a review of the
program by a non-department entity.
H.R.
3951, the Rural Veterans' Improved Access to Benefits Act of 2025: This
bill expands and extends a pilot program that allows non-VA health care
professionals to perform disability examinations for veterans, regardless
of their license jurisdiction.
The authority for this program is extended through January 5, 2031,
which is a major win for veterans who struggle to access timely medical exams.
H.R.
4446, the FAST VETS Act: This bill modifies the conditions for redeveloping
a veteran's individualized vocational rehabilitation plan under the Veteran
Readiness and Employment program, ensuring a new plan is created if a veteran's
original goals are no longer feasible due to changes in their employment handicap.
H.R.
1860, the Women Veterans Cancer Care Coordination Act: This bill
requires the VA to hire or designate regional care coordinators to help
women veterans navigate breast and gynecologic cancer care.
This directly addresses the needs of a growing population of veterans.
The bipartisan nature of this legislative package is a notable theme,
demonstrating that improving veteran care and benefits is a widely shared goal,
even amid broader political gridlock.
A Deep Dive into Key Veteran Benefits and Policy Debates
Beyond legislative progress, several critical updates to veteran
benefits were announced this week.
VA disability compensation rates for 2025 reflect a 2.5%
COLA, with a 100% disability rating now paying $3,737.85
per month, up from $3,652.83
in 2024.
Allowances for spouses and children have also increased proportionally, providing
a financial boost to many families.
The VA has also added new conditions to its presumptive list, including conditions
linked to burn pits and contaminated water exposure at military bases, which
is expected to streamline claims and provide relief to thousands of veterans.
The VA continues its efforts to accelerate claims processing through the use of
artificial intelligence, reducing the average time for initial disability claims
to 152 days, down from 184 days in 2024.
This administrative improvement, coupled with the enhanced use of the VA mobile
app to upload documents and track claims, represents a significant step
toward modernizing the bureaucracy.
Education benefits have also expanded under the GI Bill, which now covers a
wider range of career-focused training and vocational programs, providing
the same housing and book allowances as traditional college programs.
Amidst these advancements, a major controversy has emerged concerning
the CHOICE for Veterans Act (H.R.
3132), a bill that has sparked a fundamental debate over the future
of veteran claims assistance.
Disabled American Veterans (DAV), a major Veteran Service Organization,
has come out in strong opposition to the bill, arguing that it would allow
unaccredited, for-profit companies to charge veterans up to $12,500 for
claims assistance that is currently provided for free by accredited VSOs.
DAV National Commander Coleman Nee stated that the bill "puts
profits before veterans" and "risks deterring those who need help the
most from ever filing a claim".
In contrast, supporters of the bill, including the sponsor Rep.
Jack Bergman, R-MI, argue that it restores what they call "freedom" to veterans
by giving them the right to choose who assists them with their claims.
Proponents contend that the bill would empower veterans by opening up claims
assistance to the private sector while also establishing regulations
to hold companies accountable.
They accuse the VSOs and their allies of trying to protect their "bureaucratic
class" and "dying" organizations by limiting options for veterans.
This debate highlights a central tension in the veteran community: the
desire for more options and flexibility versus the need for protection against
potentially predatory practices.
Technological and Outreach Initiatives at the VA
This weekâs news reinforced the VAâs ongoing strategic push to leverage
technology and community outreach to address perennial challenges.
The week of September 14-20 was designated as Telehealth Awareness Week,
a recognition of the transformative role telehealth has played in delivering care.
Veteran trust in VA telehealth has reached 89.0%,
and satisfaction has hit 91.9%
for the fifth consecutive year, indicating the success of programs like
VA Video Connect, which has facilitated over 10 million
visits this fiscal year alone.
This is a strategic response to the perennial challenge of geography and
access, directly addressing the needs of a diverse and aging veteran population.
The VA is not just relying on the internet-savvy; it has also implemented
programs to bridge the digital divide.
Veterans who lack internet-enabled devices can request a Digital Divide Consult to
get the resources they need, and ATLAS (Accessing Telehealth through Local Area
Stations) sites provide comfortable, private spaces for veterans to conduct
video visits with VA specialists.
These initiatives demonstrate a nuanced understanding that technology is
not a one-size-fits-all solution and that some veterans need foundational
support to access these benefits.
Other technological updates this week include an improved VA Health
and Benefits mobile app that now makes submitting mileage-only travel
claims faster and easier than ever, eliminating the need for paper forms.
The VA is also urging veterans to switch from their
DS Logon to more secure Login.gov
or ID.me
accounts by September 30 to continue managing their benefits
online without interruption.
The overall picture is a VA that is actively evolving to shed its old image
as a slow, bureaucratic institution and is leveraging technology to
improve services across the board.
And that's your Weekly Briefing.
Staying on top of these changes is key to navigating your career,
your retirement, and your benefits.
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Weâll be back next week with another roundup of the news that matters most
to the military and veteran community.