WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:00.029 --> 00:00:03.329 Edward: Welcome to the MIL News Weekly for 30 November to 6 00:00:03.369 --> 00:00:07.469 December 2025, your essential guide to the latest news impacting the 00:00:07.469 --> 00:00:09.119 military and veteran community. 00:00:09.699 --> 00:00:13.640 Whether you're currently serving in uniform, a military retiree, a veteran, 00:00:13.680 --> 00:00:17.889 or a family member, this is your source for the critical updates you need to know. 00:00:18.218 --> 00:00:21.998 Each week, we cut through the noise to bring you the most important developments 00:00:21.998 --> 00:00:25.378 from the Pentagon, Capitol Hill, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. 00:00:25.838 --> 00:00:29.218 We’ll cover everything from new policies and pay raises affecting 00:00:29.218 --> 00:00:32.928 active and reserve forces, to changes in healthcare and benefits for 00:00:32.928 --> 00:00:37.268 retirees, and the latest on VA services and legislation for our veterans. 00:00:37.538 --> 00:00:38.548 Let's get you informed. 00:00:38.908 --> 00:00:40.428 Here’s what’s happened this past week. 00:00:40.824 --> 00:00:43.584 Issues That Affect Active and Reserve Military Personnel 00:00:43.962 --> 00:00:46.942 The operational tempo for the Active Duty and Reserve components 00:00:47.112 --> 00:00:49.932 has intensified significantly during this reporting period. 00:00:50.412 --> 00:00:53.922 The force is currently balancing a complex, high-visibility domestic 00:00:53.922 --> 00:00:57.192 security mission with the urgent imperative to modernize combat 00:00:57.192 --> 00:00:59.092 capabilities for peer-level conflict. 00:00:59.582 --> 00:01:03.612 This duality—policing the homeland while preparing for high-tech warfare abroad—is 00:01:04.192 --> 00:01:08.802 placing unique stressors on personnel, doctrine, and the defense industrial base. 00:01:09.152 --> 00:01:13.182 The deployment of National Guard troops to the National Capital Region, initiated 00:01:13.212 --> 00:01:17.982 under the "crime emergency" declaration of August 2025, has evolved into a 00:01:17.982 --> 00:01:21.912 defining operational commitment for the National Guard Bureau and the contributing 00:01:21.912 --> 00:01:23.932 states, particularly West Virginia. 00:01:24.358 --> 00:01:28.638 During the reporting period of November 30 to December 6, 2025, definitive 00:01:28.638 --> 00:01:31.368 confirmation emerged regarding the duration of the deployment. 00:01:31.848 --> 00:01:34.898 While initial orders suggested a conclusion in late November, 00:01:35.158 --> 00:01:38.908 the mission has now been extended through the end of February 2026. 00:01:39.628 --> 00:01:43.428 This extension, driven by the Trump administration's ongoing security 00:01:43.428 --> 00:01:46.708 assessment of the District of Columbia, effectively locks hundreds 00:01:46.708 --> 00:01:48.628 of guardsmen into a winter deployment. 00:01:49.018 --> 00:01:53.028 The West Virginia National Guard (WVNG), which has contributed between 00:01:53.028 --> 00:01:57.828 300 and 400 personnel to Joint Task Force–District of Columbia, is 00:01:57.828 --> 00:01:59.308 at the forefront of this mission. 00:01:59.878 --> 00:02:03.388 The extension raises significant administrative and legal questions 00:02:03.388 --> 00:02:05.078 regarding the status of these troops. 00:02:05.588 --> 00:02:08.668 While Governor Patrick Morrisey has maintained the deployment under 00:02:08.668 --> 00:02:12.238 his gubernatorial authority, the funding and operational control 00:02:12.268 --> 00:02:17.228 operate under a complex Title 32 and state active duty hybrid framework. 00:02:17.728 --> 00:02:20.898 The uncertainty regarding pay and entitlements, which were previously 00:02:20.898 --> 00:02:26.298 confirmed only through October 31, 2025, has been a source of anxiety for deployed 00:02:26.298 --> 00:02:27.828 service members and their families. 00:02:28.268 --> 00:02:31.798 The "continuing resolution" funding environment adds a layer of 00:02:31.798 --> 00:02:36.218 fiscal fragility to the operation, requiring constant inter-agency 00:02:36.218 --> 00:02:39.828 maneuvering to ensure seamless pay and allowance disbursement. 00:02:40.489 --> 00:02:44.989 On December 6, 2025, the DoD formally unveiled the details of the "Drone 00:02:44.989 --> 00:02:49.389 Dominance Program" (DDP), a massive initiative aimed at rapidly acquiring 00:02:49.389 --> 00:02:54.129 over 300,000 "kamikaze" or loitering munition drones by early 2028. 00:02:54.809 --> 00:02:58.689 This $1 billion program is not merely a procurement contract; it 00:02:58.689 --> 00:03:02.189 is a structural attempt to break the "cost curve" of modern warfare. 00:03:02.495 --> 00:03:06.145 The program is divided into four phases, with an immediate target of ordering 00:03:06.215 --> 00:03:09.485 30,000 systems for delivery by July 2026. 00:03:10.055 --> 00:03:13.375 This timeline is remarkably compressed compared to traditional 00:03:13.375 --> 00:03:16.585 defense acquisition cycles, which often span decades. 00:03:17.075 --> 00:03:21.525 The DDP is a direct implementation of Secretary Hegseth’s July 2025 00:03:21.525 --> 00:03:23.185 memorandum, "Unleashing U.S. 00:03:23.185 --> 00:03:26.765 Military Drone Dominance," which explicitly sought to bypass 00:03:26.765 --> 00:03:30.405 bureaucratic inertia and "unleash the combined potential of American 00:03:30.405 --> 00:03:32.525 manufacturing and warfighter ingenuity". 00:03:32.910 --> 00:03:36.600 Legislative and Fiscal Stability: Appropriations and the NDAA 00:03:36.934 --> 00:03:40.674 The following saw significant activity during the reporting period regarding 00:03:40.674 --> 00:03:44.894 the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and government funding. 00:03:45.233 --> 00:03:45.493 H.R. 00:03:45.493 --> 00:03:48.623 5371: Continuing Appropriations and Federal Pay 00:03:48.972 --> 00:03:51.902 To prevent a government lapse, President Trump signed H.R. 00:03:51.902 --> 00:03:55.062 5371, the "Continuing Appropriations... 00:03:55.962 --> 00:04:00.322 and Extensions Act, 2026," into law on November 12, 2025. 00:04:00.842 --> 00:04:04.572 The effects of this legislation remain the governing fiscal reality for the reporting 00:04:04.572 --> 00:04:06.842 period of November 30 – December 6. 00:04:07.272 --> 00:04:10.982 The Act extends federal funding through January 30, 2026. 00:04:11.346 --> 00:04:15.326 Crucially for civilian employees supporting the military, Section 116 00:04:15.326 --> 00:04:18.856 of Division A provides retroactive pay for any employees affected by 00:04:18.856 --> 00:04:23.016 the brief lapse in appropriations that began on October 1, 2025. 00:04:23.566 --> 00:04:26.496 This provision ensures that the civilian workforce—essential 00:04:26.496 --> 00:04:29.636 for logistics, maintenance, and administration—is made whole. 00:04:29.938 --> 00:04:35.078 By extending funding into early 2026, the Act allows the DoD to continue operations 00:04:35.078 --> 00:04:38.998 without the immediate threat of a holiday shutdown, providing a stable planning 00:04:38.998 --> 00:04:40.948 horizon for the Guard mission in D.C. 00:04:41.218 --> 00:04:44.218 and the initial contract awards for the Drone Dominance Program. 00:04:44.577 --> 00:04:47.357 FY2026 NDAA: The Final Stretch 00:04:47.642 --> 00:04:52.772 Negotiations on the Fiscal Year 2026 NDAA accelerated this week, with the House 00:04:52.772 --> 00:04:56.102 and Senate Armed Services Committees aiming to reconcile their bills. 00:04:56.505 --> 00:04:59.705 The compromise bill is expected to authorize a defense topline 00:04:59.705 --> 00:05:03.415 approximately $8 billion higher than the President's budget request. 00:05:03.905 --> 00:05:06.585 This increase is intended to offset the eroding effects of 00:05:06.585 --> 00:05:08.085 inflation on purchasing power. 00:05:08.447 --> 00:05:12.797 A critical provision in the House version is a targeted 15% pay increase for 00:05:12.797 --> 00:05:15.717 junior enlisted personnel (E-1 to E-4). 00:05:16.247 --> 00:05:17.297 This $2.5 00:05:17.297 --> 00:05:20.907 billion investment addresses the acute financial distress faced by 00:05:20.907 --> 00:05:24.137 the lowest-ranking service members, many of whom struggle with food 00:05:24.137 --> 00:05:25.897 insecurity and housing costs. 00:05:26.171 --> 00:05:30.551 The SPEED Act: Incorporated into the NDAA is the "Streamlining 00:05:30.551 --> 00:05:35.021 Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery" (SPEED) Act. 00:05:35.631 --> 00:05:39.451 This legislation raises the threshold for requiring "truthful cost or 00:05:39.451 --> 00:05:43.511 pricing data," a regulatory hurdle that often deters commercial tech 00:05:43.571 --> 00:05:45.291 companies from working with the DoD. 00:05:46.101 --> 00:05:49.431 This legislative change is the statutory companion to the Drone 00:05:49.431 --> 00:05:53.151 Dominance Program, legally enabling the rapid acquisition strategies 00:05:53.151 --> 00:05:54.681 the Pentagon seeks to implement. 00:05:55.189 --> 00:05:56.809 2026 Military Pay Raise 00:05:57.156 --> 00:05:59.646 The economic outlook for active duty personnel was 00:05:59.646 --> 00:06:01.096 solidified during this period. 00:06:01.586 --> 00:06:05.186 The 2026 military pay raise is set at 3.8%, 00:06:05.466 --> 00:06:07.876 effective January 1, 2026. 00:06:08.426 --> 00:06:12.076 This figure is tied to the Employment Cost Index (ECI) and has 00:06:12.076 --> 00:06:15.206 passed both chambers of Congress without significant opposition. 00:06:15.836 --> 00:06:17.536 While lower than the 4.5% 00:06:17.536 --> 00:06:22.156 raise in 2025, it continues the trend of ensuring military compensation keeps 00:06:22.156 --> 00:06:23.936 pace with private-sector wage growth. 00:06:24.320 --> 00:06:27.040 Incident Report: USS Gettysburg Friendly Fire 00:06:27.358 --> 00:06:31.248 Transparency and accountability were themes of the week as the Navy released 00:06:31.248 --> 00:06:34.438 the results of an investigation into a friendly fire incident 00:06:34.538 --> 00:06:37.238 involving the USS Gettysburg (CG 64). 00:06:37.751 --> 00:06:42.241 On December 22, 2024, the cruiser engaged and destroyed a friendly 00:06:42.321 --> 00:06:47.391 F/A-18F Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 11 in the Red Sea. 00:06:47.725 --> 00:06:51.435 The investigation cited a breakdown in "forceful backup" and a lack 00:06:51.435 --> 00:06:54.385 of integrated training between the cruiser and the carrier air wing. 00:06:54.738 --> 00:06:58.708 This incident serves as a grim reminder of the complexity of modern air defense. 00:06:59.008 --> 00:07:02.478 As the Navy operates in congested environments like the Red Sea, where 00:07:02.478 --> 00:07:06.368 commercial drones, Houthi missiles, and friendly aircraft share the same airspace, 00:07:06.708 --> 00:07:08.848 the margin for error is nonexistent. 00:07:09.238 --> 00:07:13.158 The Navy has pledged to use this as a learning event to refine Identification 00:07:13.158 --> 00:07:15.258 Friend or Foe (IFF) procedures. 00:07:15.559 --> 00:07:17.939 Issues That Affect Retired Military Personnel 00:07:18.313 --> 00:07:22.613 For the retired community, the first week of December 2025 brought finalized 00:07:22.613 --> 00:07:26.403 economic data for the upcoming year and a historic legislative correction for 00:07:26.403 --> 00:07:28.203 the nation's most decorated veterans. 00:07:28.633 --> 00:07:30.243 The Medal of Honor Act (H.R. 00:07:30.243 --> 00:07:32.253 695): Restoring Dignity 00:07:32.580 --> 00:07:35.520 The most significant legislative victory for retirees this 00:07:35.520 --> 00:07:37.360 week was the enactment of H.R. 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:41.210 695, the Medal of Honor Act, signed into law by President 00:07:41.210 --> 00:07:43.280 Trump on December 1, 2025. 00:07:43.656 --> 00:07:48.206 Since 1916, Medal of Honor recipients have received a special monthly pension. 00:07:48.516 --> 00:07:51.406 Originally set at $10, it has been adjusted sporadically 00:07:51.406 --> 00:07:52.496 over the last century. 00:07:52.806 --> 00:07:57.776 In 2025, the rate stood at approximately $1,619 per month. 00:07:58.326 --> 00:08:01.726 The new law recognizes that this amount was insufficient to support 00:08:01.726 --> 00:08:05.706 the recipients, many of whom dedicate their post-service lives to unpaid 00:08:05.706 --> 00:08:09.636 public diplomacy and inspiring the next generation, often limiting their 00:08:09.636 --> 00:08:11.546 ability to pursue standard careers. 00:08:11.961 --> 00:08:15.361 The Medal of Honor Act implements a massive, structural increase: 00:08:15.703 --> 00:08:19.223 The monthly pension is increased to $5,625. 00:08:19.863 --> 00:08:23.583 This results in an annual stipend of roughly $67,500. 00:08:23.886 --> 00:08:27.576 Crucially, the law establishes a pension for the surviving spouses of Medal 00:08:27.576 --> 00:08:31.296 of Honor recipients, set at $1,406.73 00:08:31.356 --> 00:08:31.766 per month. 00:08:32.446 --> 00:08:35.716 Previously, the pension died with the veteran, often leaving widows 00:08:35.716 --> 00:08:37.086 in financial precariousness. 00:08:37.467 --> 00:08:41.527 Both amounts are legally tied to annual cost-of-living adjustments, ensuring 00:08:41.527 --> 00:08:43.577 their value persists into the future. 00:08:43.882 --> 00:08:47.902 This legislation goes beyond financial support; it is a statement of national 00:08:47.902 --> 00:08:51.642 values, ensuring that the bearers of the nation's highest award live 00:08:51.642 --> 00:08:55.602 with a baseline of financial dignity commensurate with their sacrifice. 00:08:55.996 --> 00:08:57.876 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) 00:08:58.159 --> 00:09:00.749 With the start of the new year approaching, the COLA rates for 00:09:00.749 --> 00:09:04.409 2026 have been finalized, presenting a mixed picture for different 00:09:04.409 --> 00:09:06.269 categories of federal retirees. 00:09:06.544 --> 00:09:09.384 Retirees under the traditional military pension system and the 00:09:09.384 --> 00:09:13.934 Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) will receive a 2.8% 00:09:13.934 --> 00:09:16.994 COLA, effective as of December 1, 2025. 00:09:17.468 --> 00:09:21.898 The increase will first appear in the annuity checks issued in January 2026. 00:09:22.178 --> 00:09:25.828 This rate is based on the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and 00:09:25.828 --> 00:09:30.138 Clerical Workers (CPI-W) measurements from the third quarter of 2025. 00:09:30.650 --> 00:09:33.260 TRICARE Pharmacy Costs and Health Plan Changes 00:09:33.516 --> 00:09:37.026 Healthcare expenses remain a primary driver of retiree budgets. 00:09:37.406 --> 00:09:41.996 The Defense Health Agency (DHA) has released the 2026 cost structures, 00:09:42.256 --> 00:09:45.286 revealing targeted price hikes designed to shift behavior. 00:09:45.687 --> 00:09:49.587 The 2026 fee schedule continues the DoD's long-term strategy of 00:09:49.587 --> 00:09:52.807 incentivizing the use of Home Delivery over retail pharmacies. 00:09:53.367 --> 00:09:57.167 For a 90-day supply obtained through Home Delivery, the copayment for generic 00:09:57.167 --> 00:10:00.737 drugs will increase from $13 to $14. 00:10:01.487 --> 00:10:07.687 Brand-name drugs will see a significant rise from $38 to $44, and non-formulary 00:10:07.687 --> 00:10:11.207 drugs will jump from $76 to $85. 00:10:11.550 --> 00:10:15.170 In contrast, prices at Retail Network Pharmacies for a 30-day 00:10:15.170 --> 00:10:16.920 supply are also adjusting. 00:10:17.410 --> 00:10:21.400 While generic drugs remain steady at $16, brand-name drugs will 00:10:21.400 --> 00:10:28.140 increase from $43 to $48, and non-formulary drugs will rise to $85. 00:10:28.448 --> 00:10:29.778 The price signal is clear. 00:10:30.058 --> 00:10:34.398 A retiree pays $14 for a 90-day supply of generics via mail, 00:10:34.458 --> 00:10:38.798 compared to $48 ($16 x 3) for the same supply at a retail pharmacy. 00:10:39.398 --> 00:10:42.648 This differential is intended to push the retiree population toward 00:10:42.648 --> 00:10:46.328 the lower-overhead mail-order system, reducing costs for the DHA. 00:10:46.675 --> 00:10:48.445 Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs 00:10:48.825 --> 00:10:52.955 The landscape of Veterans Affairs is currently defined by a sharp legislative 00:10:52.955 --> 00:10:57.095 conflict over how to fund expanded benefits, alongside critical public 00:10:57.095 --> 00:11:01.305 health updates and research breakthroughs impacting the disabled veteran community. 00:11:01.669 --> 00:11:02.989 The Conflict Over H.R. 00:11:02.989 --> 00:11:05.179 6047: The Briley and Edmundson Act 00:11:05.553 --> 00:11:09.063 The most contentious issue in the veteran community this week is H.R. 00:11:09.063 --> 00:11:14.053 6047, the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act. 00:11:14.513 --> 00:11:17.783 This legislation has triggered a civil war among veteran service 00:11:17.783 --> 00:11:21.433 organizations (VSOs), highlighting the fiscal constraints of the 00:11:21.433 --> 00:11:22.793 current political environment. 00:11:23.201 --> 00:11:26.821 The bill aims to address two long-standing gaps in the VA safety net: 00:11:27.261 --> 00:11:30.921 Catastrophically Disabled Veterans: It creates a new supplemental monthly 00:11:30.921 --> 00:11:34.121 allowance for veterans with severe service-connected disabilities 00:11:34.251 --> 00:11:38.231 (such as quadriplegia, blindness, or severe TBI) who are already 00:11:38.231 --> 00:11:39.831 eligible for Aid and Attendance. 00:11:40.241 --> 00:11:44.021 The proposal offers an additional $10,000 annually to help cover the 00:11:44.021 --> 00:11:46.221 extraordinary costs of home-based care. 00:11:46.566 --> 00:11:50.736 It mandates a 1% annual increase to Dependency and Indemnity 00:11:50.736 --> 00:11:53.276 Compensation (DIC) for five years. 00:11:53.796 --> 00:11:57.526 DIC rates have historically lagged behind other federal survivor 00:11:57.526 --> 00:12:01.386 benefits, and this provision seeks to incrementally close that gap. 00:12:01.809 --> 00:12:03.359 The Controversy: The "Pay-For" 00:12:03.872 --> 00:12:07.172 To adhere to "PAYGO" (Pay-As-You-Go) fiscal rules, 00:12:07.422 --> 00:12:09.122 the bill must be budget-neutral. 00:12:09.802 --> 00:12:13.662 The proposed revenue source is an increase in the VA Home Loan Funding Fee. 00:12:13.996 --> 00:12:17.586 The bill would reinstate the funding fee for veterans with disability ratings of 00:12:17.586 --> 00:12:22.786 70% or less when they use the home loan benefit for a second or subsequent time. 00:12:23.052 --> 00:12:27.512 Currently, all veterans with a compensable service-connected disability (10% or 00:12:27.512 --> 00:12:29.912 higher) are exempt from the funding fee. 00:12:30.296 --> 00:12:34.726 The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has taken a hardline stance against the bill. 00:12:35.276 --> 00:12:39.716 VFW Director Kristina Keenan testified, "Through the 80-year history of the 00:12:39.716 --> 00:12:44.306 program, disabled veterans have always been exempted from the funding fee... 00:12:44.606 --> 00:12:47.946 HR 6047 would break that longstanding promise." 00:12:48.516 --> 00:12:52.396 The core argument is philosophical: one group of disabled veterans 00:12:52.466 --> 00:12:55.306 should not be taxed to pay for the benefits of another group. 00:12:55.776 --> 00:13:00.476 Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) echoed this, stating, "A veteran 00:13:00.476 --> 00:13:02.946 should never foot the bill for another veteran's benefits". 00:13:03.285 --> 00:13:06.295 Organizations representing the most severely wounded, including 00:13:06.295 --> 00:13:10.405 the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) and Paralyzed Veterans of 00:13:10.405 --> 00:13:12.845 America (PVA), support the bill. 00:13:13.355 --> 00:13:17.305 Their calculus is pragmatic: the catastrophically disabled have waited 00:13:17.345 --> 00:13:21.885 decades for relief, and the proposed fee (averaging ~$35/month on a mortgage) 00:13:22.185 --> 00:13:26.725 is a bearable cost for the broader population of less-disabled veterans to 00:13:26.725 --> 00:13:28.675 ensure the most vulnerable are protected. 00:13:29.023 --> 00:13:31.123 Revenue Recovery: The GUARD Act (H.R. 00:13:31.123 --> 00:13:32.013 4077) 00:13:32.433 --> 00:13:33.103 While H.R. 00:13:33.103 --> 00:13:35.623 6047 is controversial, H.R. 00:13:35.623 --> 00:13:39.273 4077, the GUARD Veterans’ Health Care Act, represents a 00:13:39.273 --> 00:13:41.343 consensus approach to VA funding. 00:13:41.701 --> 00:13:45.091 Currently, when a veteran who has both VA coverage and private Medicare 00:13:45.091 --> 00:13:49.971 Advantage (MA) coverage receives care at a VA facility, the VA is legally 00:13:49.971 --> 00:13:52.261 prohibited from billing the MA plan. 00:13:52.851 --> 00:13:56.781 This results in the VA subsidizing the profits of private insurance companies. 00:13:57.079 --> 00:13:57.479 H.R. 00:13:57.479 --> 00:14:02.449 4077 authorizes the VHA to recoup costs from MA plans for 00:14:02.449 --> 00:14:04.029 non-service-connected care. 00:14:04.479 --> 00:14:08.529 This could generate billions in revenue for the VA without costing the veteran 00:14:08.529 --> 00:14:13.169 a dime, as the bill prohibits plans from passing these costs on to the enrollee. 00:14:13.739 --> 00:14:18.409 The VFW and other groups strongly support this measure as a common-sense fiscal fix. 00:14:18.723 --> 00:14:20.593 Public Health: The SUPPORT Act (H.R. 00:14:20.593 --> 00:14:21.503 2483) 00:14:21.815 --> 00:14:25.255 On December 1, 2025, President Trump signed the SUPPORT 00:14:25.255 --> 00:14:29.215 for Patients and Communities Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R. 00:14:29.215 --> 00:14:30.105 2483). 00:14:30.463 --> 00:14:33.803 The Act includes provisions that impact health insurance markets, 00:14:34.033 --> 00:14:37.883 potentially influencing Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) 00:14:37.883 --> 00:14:42.733 plans by mandating coverage standards for substance use disorder (SUD). 00:14:43.088 --> 00:14:46.348 The Act reauthorizes critical grant programs for opioid 00:14:46.348 --> 00:14:47.708 prevention and recovery. 00:14:48.108 --> 00:14:51.528 It establishes a "Federal Interagency Work Group on Fentanyl 00:14:51.528 --> 00:14:55.708 Contamination" to combat the overdose crisis, which disproportionately 00:14:55.708 --> 00:14:57.248 affects the veteran population. 00:14:57.818 --> 00:15:02.118 Additionally, Section 108 mandates enhanced cybersecurity for the National 00:15:02.118 --> 00:15:06.968 Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988), ensuring this vital lifeline remains 00:15:06.968 --> 00:15:09.178 operational in the face of cyber threats. 00:15:09.482 --> 00:15:11.522 Comparative Economic and Benefit Analysis 00:15:11.801 --> 00:15:16.031 Federal & Military Economic Adjustments The 2026 economic 00:15:16.031 --> 00:15:18.351 landscape for federal personnel is set. 00:15:18.941 --> 00:15:21.661 Active duty troops will see a 3.8% 00:15:21.661 --> 00:15:25.711 pay increase effective January 1, 2026, keeping pace with 00:15:25.711 --> 00:15:27.021 the Employment Cost Index. 00:15:27.611 --> 00:15:33.771 Retirees are split by system: Military and CSRS retirees will receive a 2.8% 00:15:33.771 --> 00:15:37.461 COLA, appearing in January checks, while FERS retirees are 00:15:37.461 --> 00:15:40.261 statutorily capped at a 2.0% 00:15:40.261 --> 00:15:42.491 increase due to the "diet COLA" provision. 00:15:43.081 --> 00:15:46.321 Additionally, the new Medal of Honor Act establishes a flat annual 00:15:46.321 --> 00:15:51.151 pension of approximately $67,500 for recipients, a dramatic increase 00:15:51.151 --> 00:15:53.281 from the previous ~$19,000 rate. 00:15:53.719 --> 00:15:54.119 H.R. 00:15:54.119 --> 00:15:56.199 6047 Benefit vs. 00:15:56.199 --> 00:16:00.349 Cost Analysis The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Act proposes 00:16:00.409 --> 00:16:01.949 a straightforward trade-off. 00:16:02.409 --> 00:16:06.679 It offers a $10,000 annual benefit for catastrophically disabled veterans 00:16:06.969 --> 00:16:11.129 and a 1% annual increase for five years for survivor benefits (DIC). 00:16:11.129 --> 00:16:16.569 To fund this $7 billion expansion, the bill reinstates the Home Loan Funding 00:16:16.569 --> 00:16:20.959 Fee for veterans with disability ratings between 0% and 70% on their 00:16:20.959 --> 00:16:22.979 second or subsequent use of the loan. 00:16:23.749 --> 00:16:27.479 This breaks the long-standing precedent of fee exemptions for disabled veterans, 00:16:27.699 --> 00:16:31.959 creating the central point of friction between the VFW (opposed) and groups like 00:16:32.049 --> 00:16:34.509 PVA and Wounded Warrior Project (support). 00:16:34.789 --> 00:16:36.329 And that's your weekly briefing. 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:40.469 Staying on top of these changes is key to navigating your career, 00:16:40.669 --> 00:16:42.849 your retirement, and your benefits. 00:16:43.145 --> 00:16:44.155 Thank you for tuning in. 00:16:44.615 --> 00:16:48.575 Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, so you never miss an update. 00:16:49.145 --> 00:16:52.485 We’ll be back next week with another roundup of the news that matters most 00:16:52.485 --> 00:16:54.425 to the military and veteran community.