Edward: Welcome to the MIL News Weekly for 30 November to 6
December 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 operational tempo for the Active Duty and Reserve components
has intensified significantly during this reporting period.
The force is currently balancing a complex, high-visibility domestic
security mission with the urgent imperative to modernize combat
capabilities for peer-level conflict.
This dualityâpolicing the homeland while preparing for high-tech warfare abroadâis
placing unique stressors on personnel, doctrine, and the defense industrial base.
The deployment of National Guard troops to the National Capital Region, initiated
under the "crime emergency" declaration of August 2025, has evolved into a
defining operational commitment for the National Guard Bureau and the contributing
states, particularly West Virginia.
During the reporting period of November 30 to December 6, 2025, definitive
confirmation emerged regarding the duration of the deployment.
While initial orders suggested a conclusion in late November,
the mission has now been extended through the end of February 2026.
This extension, driven by the Trump administration's ongoing security
assessment of the District of Columbia, effectively locks hundreds
of guardsmen into a winter deployment.
The West Virginia National Guard (WVNG), which has contributed between
300 and 400 personnel to Joint Task ForceâDistrict of Columbia, is
at the forefront of this mission.
The extension raises significant administrative and legal questions
regarding the status of these troops.
While Governor Patrick Morrisey has maintained the deployment under
his gubernatorial authority, the funding and operational control
operate under a complex Title 32 and state active duty hybrid framework.
The uncertainty regarding pay and entitlements, which were previously
confirmed only through October 31, 2025, has been a source of anxiety for deployed
service members and their families.
The "continuing resolution" funding environment adds a layer of
fiscal fragility to the operation, requiring constant inter-agency
maneuvering to ensure seamless pay and allowance disbursement.
On December 6, 2025, the DoD formally unveiled the details of the "Drone
Dominance Program" (DDP), a massive initiative aimed at rapidly acquiring
over 300,000 "kamikaze" or loitering munition drones by early 2028.
This $1 billion program is not merely a procurement contract; it
is a structural attempt to break the "cost curve" of modern warfare.
The program is divided into four phases, with an immediate target of ordering
30,000 systems for delivery by July 2026.
This timeline is remarkably compressed compared to traditional
defense acquisition cycles, which often span decades.
The DDP is a direct implementation of Secretary Hegsethâs July 2025
memorandum, "Unleashing U.S.
Military Drone Dominance," which explicitly sought to bypass
bureaucratic inertia and "unleash the combined potential of American
manufacturing and warfighter ingenuity".
Legislative and Fiscal Stability: Appropriations and the NDAA
The following saw significant activity during the reporting period regarding
the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and government funding.
H.R.
5371: Continuing Appropriations and Federal Pay
To prevent a government lapse, President Trump signed H.R.
5371, the "Continuing Appropriations...
and Extensions Act, 2026," into law on November 12, 2025.
The effects of this legislation remain the governing fiscal reality for the reporting
period of November 30 â December 6.
The Act extends federal funding through January 30, 2026.
Crucially for civilian employees supporting the military, Section 116
of Division A provides retroactive pay for any employees affected by
the brief lapse in appropriations that began on October 1, 2025.
This provision ensures that the civilian workforceâessential
for logistics, maintenance, and administrationâis made whole.
By extending funding into early 2026, the Act allows the DoD to continue operations
without the immediate threat of a holiday shutdown, providing a stable planning
horizon for the Guard mission in D.C.
and the initial contract awards for the Drone Dominance Program.
FY2026 NDAA: The Final Stretch
Negotiations on the Fiscal Year 2026 NDAA accelerated this week, with the House
and Senate Armed Services Committees aiming to reconcile their bills.
The compromise bill is expected to authorize a defense topline
approximately $8 billion higher than the President's budget request.
This increase is intended to offset the eroding effects of
inflation on purchasing power.
A critical provision in the House version is a targeted 15% pay increase for
junior enlisted personnel (E-1 to E-4).
This $2.5
billion investment addresses the acute financial distress faced by
the lowest-ranking service members, many of whom struggle with food
insecurity and housing costs.
The SPEED Act: Incorporated into the NDAA is the "Streamlining
Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery" (SPEED) Act.
This legislation raises the threshold for requiring "truthful cost or
pricing data," a regulatory hurdle that often deters commercial tech
companies from working with the DoD.
This legislative change is the statutory companion to the Drone
Dominance Program, legally enabling the rapid acquisition strategies
the Pentagon seeks to implement.
2026 Military Pay Raise
The economic outlook for active duty personnel was
solidified during this period.
The 2026 military pay raise is set at 3.8%,
effective January 1, 2026.
This figure is tied to the Employment Cost Index (ECI) and has
passed both chambers of Congress without significant opposition.
While lower than the 4.5%
raise in 2025, it continues the trend of ensuring military compensation keeps
pace with private-sector wage growth.
Incident Report: USS Gettysburg Friendly Fire
Transparency and accountability were themes of the week as the Navy released
the results of an investigation into a friendly fire incident
involving the USS Gettysburg (CG 64).
On December 22, 2024, the cruiser engaged and destroyed a friendly
F/A-18F Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 in the Red Sea.
The investigation cited a breakdown in "forceful backup" and a lack
of integrated training between the cruiser and the carrier air wing.
This incident serves as a grim reminder of the complexity of modern air defense.
As the Navy operates in congested environments like the Red Sea, where
commercial drones, Houthi missiles, and friendly aircraft share the same airspace,
the margin for error is nonexistent.
The Navy has pledged to use this as a learning event to refine Identification
Friend or Foe (IFF) procedures.
Issues That Affect Retired Military Personnel
For the retired community, the first week of December 2025 brought finalized
economic data for the upcoming year and a historic legislative correction for
the nation's most decorated veterans.
The Medal of Honor Act (H.R.
695): Restoring Dignity
The most significant legislative victory for retirees this
week was the enactment of H.R.
695, the Medal of Honor Act, signed into law by President
Trump on December 1, 2025.
Since 1916, Medal of Honor recipients have received a special monthly pension.
Originally set at $10, it has been adjusted sporadically
over the last century.
In 2025, the rate stood at approximately $1,619 per month.
The new law recognizes that this amount was insufficient to support
the recipients, many of whom dedicate their post-service lives to unpaid
public diplomacy and inspiring the next generation, often limiting their
ability to pursue standard careers.
The Medal of Honor Act implements a massive, structural increase:
The monthly pension is increased to $5,625.
This results in an annual stipend of roughly $67,500.
Crucially, the law establishes a pension for the surviving spouses of Medal
of Honor recipients, set at $1,406.73
per month.
Previously, the pension died with the veteran, often leaving widows
in financial precariousness.
Both amounts are legally tied to annual cost-of-living adjustments, ensuring
their value persists into the future.
This legislation goes beyond financial support; it is a statement of national
values, ensuring that the bearers of the nation's highest award live
with a baseline of financial dignity commensurate with their sacrifice.
2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)
With the start of the new year approaching, the COLA rates for
2026 have been finalized, presenting a mixed picture for different
categories of federal retirees.
Retirees under the traditional military pension system and the
Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) will receive a 2.8%
COLA, effective as of December 1, 2025.
The increase will first appear in the annuity checks issued in January 2026.
This rate is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and
Clerical Workers (CPI-W) measurements from the third quarter of 2025.
TRICARE Pharmacy Costs and Health Plan Changes
Healthcare expenses remain a primary driver of retiree budgets.
The Defense Health Agency (DHA) has released the 2026 cost structures,
revealing targeted price hikes designed to shift behavior.
The 2026 fee schedule continues the DoD's long-term strategy of
incentivizing the use of Home Delivery over retail pharmacies.
For a 90-day supply obtained through Home Delivery, the copayment for generic
drugs will increase from $13 to $14.
Brand-name drugs will see a significant rise from $38 to $44, and non-formulary
drugs will jump from $76 to $85.
In contrast, prices at Retail Network Pharmacies for a 30-day
supply are also adjusting.
While generic drugs remain steady at $16, brand-name drugs will
increase from $43 to $48, and non-formulary drugs will rise to $85.
The price signal is clear.
A retiree pays $14 for a 90-day supply of generics via mail,
compared to $48 ($16 x 3) for the same supply at a retail pharmacy.
This differential is intended to push the retiree population toward
the lower-overhead mail-order system, reducing costs for the DHA.
Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs
The landscape of Veterans Affairs is currently defined by a sharp legislative
conflict over how to fund expanded benefits, alongside critical public
health updates and research breakthroughs impacting the disabled veteran community.
The Conflict Over H.R.
6047: The Briley and Edmundson Act
The most contentious issue in the veteran community this week is H.R.
6047, the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act.
This legislation has triggered a civil war among veteran service
organizations (VSOs), highlighting the fiscal constraints of the
current political environment.
The bill aims to address two long-standing gaps in the VA safety net:
Catastrophically Disabled Veterans: It creates a new supplemental monthly
allowance for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities
(such as quadriplegia, blindness, or severe TBI) who are already
eligible for Aid and Attendance.
The proposal offers an additional $10,000 annually to help cover the
extraordinary costs of home-based care.
It mandates a 1% annual increase to Dependency and Indemnity
Compensation (DIC) for five years.
DIC rates have historically lagged behind other federal survivor
benefits, and this provision seeks to incrementally close that gap.
The Controversy: The "Pay-For"
To adhere to "PAYGO" (Pay-As-You-Go) fiscal rules,
the bill must be budget-neutral.
The proposed revenue source is an increase in the VA Home Loan Funding Fee.
The bill would reinstate the funding fee for veterans with disability ratings of
70% or less when they use the home loan benefit for a second or subsequent time.
Currently, all veterans with a compensable service-connected disability (10% or
higher) are exempt from the funding fee.
The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has taken a hardline stance against the bill.
VFW Director Kristina Keenan testified, "Through the 80-year history of the
program, disabled veterans have always been exempted from the funding fee...
HR 6047 would break that longstanding promise."
The core argument is philosophical: one group of disabled veterans
should not be taxed to pay for the benefits of another group.
Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) echoed this, stating, "A veteran
should never foot the bill for another veteran's benefits".
Organizations representing the most severely wounded, including
the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) and Paralyzed Veterans of
America (PVA), support the bill.
Their calculus is pragmatic: the catastrophically disabled have waited
decades for relief, and the proposed fee (averaging ~$35/month on a mortgage)
is a bearable cost for the broader population of less-disabled veterans to
ensure the most vulnerable are protected.
Revenue Recovery: The GUARD Act (H.R.
4077)
While H.R.
6047 is controversial, H.R.
4077, the GUARD Veteransâ Health Care Act, represents a
consensus approach to VA funding.
Currently, when a veteran who has both VA coverage and private Medicare
Advantage (MA) coverage receives care at a VA facility, the VA is legally
prohibited from billing the MA plan.
This results in the VA subsidizing the profits of private insurance companies.
H.R.
4077 authorizes the VHA to recoup costs from MA plans for
non-service-connected care.
This could generate billions in revenue for the VA without costing the veteran
a dime, as the bill prohibits plans from passing these costs on to the enrollee.
The VFW and other groups strongly support this measure as a common-sense fiscal fix.
Public Health: The SUPPORT Act (H.R.
2483)
On December 1, 2025, President Trump signed the SUPPORT
for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R.
2483).
The Act includes provisions that impact health insurance markets,
potentially influencing Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB)
plans by mandating coverage standards for substance use disorder (SUD).
The Act reauthorizes critical grant programs for opioid
prevention and recovery.
It establishes a "Federal Interagency Work Group on Fentanyl
Contamination" to combat the overdose crisis, which disproportionately
affects the veteran population.
Additionally, Section 108 mandates enhanced cybersecurity for the National
Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988), ensuring this vital lifeline remains
operational in the face of cyber threats.
Comparative Economic and Benefit Analysis
Federal & Military Economic Adjustments The 2026 economic
landscape for federal personnel is set.
Active duty troops will see a 3.8%
pay increase effective January 1, 2026, keeping pace with
the Employment Cost Index.
Retirees are split by system: Military and CSRS retirees will receive a 2.8%
COLA, appearing in January checks, while FERS retirees are
statutorily capped at a 2.0%
increase due to the "diet COLA" provision.
Additionally, the new Medal of Honor Act establishes a flat annual
pension of approximately $67,500 for recipients, a dramatic increase
from the previous ~$19,000 rate.
H.R.
6047 Benefit vs.
Cost Analysis The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Act proposes
a straightforward trade-off.
It offers a $10,000 annual benefit for catastrophically disabled veterans
and a 1% annual increase for five years for survivor benefits (DIC).
To fund this $7 billion expansion, the bill reinstates the Home Loan Funding
Fee for veterans with disability ratings between 0% and 70% on their
second or subsequent use of the loan.
This breaks the long-standing precedent of fee exemptions for disabled veterans,
creating the central point of friction between the VFW (opposed) and groups like
PVA and Wounded Warrior Project (support).
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.
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Weâll be back next week with another roundup of the news that matters most
to the military and veteran community.