Edward: Welcome to the MIL News Weekly for 5 - 11 October 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
Operational Impacts of the Government Shutdown (01 October 2025 Onward)
The primary issue confronting active and reserve military personnel during the
week of 05 October through 11 October 2025 was the continuation of duty without pay.
The lapse in appropriations, effective since 1 October 2025, mandated that
active-duty personnel and Active Reserve members must continue reporting for duty
and executing assigned tasks, particularly those supporting national security.
However, under current contingency guidance, no pay or entitlements
were disbursed, leaving personnel unpaid until Congress passes a
Continuing Resolution or the Fiscal Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act.
Once legislative action restores funding, all backpay is mandated
to be provided retroactively.
This financial uncertainty places a dual burden on the force.
Although military personnel are considered essential and legally
required to report (an excepted activity), the reliance on independent
support mechanisms is heightened.
Non-appropriated fund (NAF) activities, such as exchanges
and commissaries, remained fully operational across installations
because they are funded separately from the annual appropriations process.
This NAF network, coupled with essential Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR)
programs (like dining facilities, physical training, and essential
childcare), provides a crucial financial and logistical buffer for families
facing immediate financial hardship.
Furthermore, emergency support resources, including the Military
OneSource call center, the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, crisis
intervention, and religious counseling, continued without interruption.
Operational impacts extended beyond pay.
Non-essential training and travel faced restrictions.
Inactive Duty Training (IDT) drills for reservists were permitted only
if they supported excepted functions; otherwise, Reserve component Marines
were instructed to return home.
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves were limited to those ordered before
01 October 2025, or those directly associated with critical, excepted
activities, such as accession and initial entry training, which proceed
to maintain recruitment pipelines.
Legislative Progress: Authorization and Appropriations
Amidst the shutdown, the Senate achieved a major legislative milestone.
On 9 October 2025, the Senate passed S.
2296, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026.
This comprehensive measure authorizes appropriations for defense activities,
military construction, and personnel strengths for the coming fiscal year.
The passage of the NDAA is a necessary political step but is not
sufficient to resolve the pay lapse.
The NDAA grants the legislative authority for the Department of Defense
to spend funds, but the actual release of money requires the passage of the
appropriations bill, specifically H.R.
3944, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture,
and Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026, or a
short-term Continuing Resolution.
Therefore, despite the Senateâs action on 09 October 2025, the financial anxiety
for active duty members will persist until the appropriations process is finalized.
Key Policy and Benefits Extensions
Two significant, favorable policy changes directly affecting active duty
and reserve components took effect this week, providing a measure of
security during the fiscal uncertainty.
First, a critical extension of the TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) Survivor
Benefit took effect on 1 October 2025.
This change allows survivors of non-activated National Guard or
Reserve members who held TRS coverage at the time of the sponsor's death to
continue or purchase coverage for up to three years from the date of death.
This is a massive expansion from the previous six-month benefit period for
sponsors who died prior to 1 October 2025.
By providing up to three years of stable, affordable health coverage, this policy
significantly reduces the immediate financial and medical insecurity faced by
surviving families, enhancing the overall security proposition of reserve service.
Second, the expiration date for the Reserve Income Replacement Program
was extended from December 31, 2024, to December 31, 2025, via Section
611(a) of related legislation.
This program is essential for providing income replacement payments to certain
Reserve component members who experience extended and frequent mobilization for
active-duty service, offering vital economic stability for those frequently
cycling in and out of active status.
Finally, the DoD implemented a final rule amending the Defense Federal
Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement inflation adjustment
requirements, effective 1 October 2025.
This adjustment, mandated by 41 U.S.C.
1908, ensures ongoing adjustments in government contract costs, a measure
vital for maintaining operational readiness and procurement stability.
Issues That Affect Retired Military Personnel
The Critical 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment Outlook
For retired military personnel and all federal annuitants, the news focus
during 5 October through 11 October 2025 centered on the pending calculation for
the 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).
Retirees previously received a 2.5
percent COLA for Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) annuities,
military retirement annuities, and Social Security benefits in January
2025; Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuities received a 2.0
percent COLA.
The calculation for the 2026 COLA relies on measuring the percentage
change in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical
Workers (CPI-W) between the third quarter (Q3) of 2024 and Q3 of 2025.
Data released in this period indicated the August 2025 CPI-W figure showed a 0.30
percent increase over the previous month.
The decisive data point, the CPI-W figure for September 2025, which finalizes
the Q3 average, is scheduled for release on Wednesday, 15 October 2025.
The anticipation surrounding the 15 October 2025 data release is immense
because the same economic metricâthe Q3 CPI-Wâdrives the adjustments for
military retired pay, Social Security, and, by legislative mandate (S.
2392), VA disability compensation.
This statutory linkage confirms that the financial outlook for nearly
all federal annuitants and disabled veterans rests upon this single
forthcoming government economic release.
TRICARE West Region Contractor Transition Logistics
Retired military beneficiaries relying on TRICARE faced operational changes
this week following the contractor transition in the West Region.
TriWest Healthcare Alliance has assumed the role of the new regional contractor.
This transition is particularly relevant for retirees living in the six states
that moved from the East Region to the West Region: Arkansas, Illinois,
Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin.
A critical logistical deadline was 30 September 2025.
This date marked the expiration point for active referrals and
pre-authorizations issued by the previous contractors (HNFS or Humana Military),
unless the referral expired earlier.
The week of 05 October 2025 represents the immediate post-deadline period.
Retirees who failed to secure new TriWest referrals or update payment information
face the risk of service interruptions or non-covered specialty care.
Beneficiaries affected by the region change are strongly advised
to proactively engage with TriWest immediately to establish new accounts,
confirm coverage, and secure new provider network referrals, as the
transition is now fully operational.
Congressional Action Affecting Federal Employees
One recently enacted law, while primarily focused on the current
VA federal workforce, has long-term positive implications for retirees.
S.
423, the PRO Veterans Act of 2025, which passed earlier this year, authorizes
the VA to provide critical skill incentives to senior-level VA employees.
This law directly aids current VA federal employees by offering specialized
retention pay, particularly for employees whose positions, though primarily
at the VA central office, perform functions at other VA facilities.
The intention is to stabilize and retain high-quality
leadership and clinical talent.
For retired federal employees, this legislation contributes to the
quality of service provided by the VA.
A more stable and highly skilled VA workforce ultimately enhances
the reliability, efficiency, and quality of the health care and
benefits system upon which millions of military retirees depend.
Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs
Financial Continuity and Legislative Mandates
Despite the government shutdown that began on 01 October 2025, VA disability
benefits for the month of October 2025 were distributed on Wednesday, 01
October 2025, the first day of the month.
This continuity of payment, in sharp contrast to the immediate pay lapse
experienced by active duty personnel, is possible because mandatory veteran
benefits are typically funded a year in advance, providing essential
financial stability for disabled veterans during times of fiscal crisis.
The current base compensation for a veteran with a 100 percent disability
rating is $3,831, with the maximum possible payment for a veteran with
qualifying dependents reaching $4,388.
The legislative efforts in Congress during the week of 05 October through
11 October 2025 focused heavily on ensuring future financial and
administrative stability for veterans.
Key Veterans Affairs Legislation Passed by Congress
S.
2392 â Veteransâ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025
This bill proposes to increase the rates of compensation for veterans
with service-connected disabilities and the rates of Dependency and
Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for their survivors, effective 1 December 2025.
The mandated percentage increase will be equal to the percentage
increase determined for Social Security benefits (the 2026 COLA).
This legislation ensures that disabled veterans and their survivors receive
compensation increases commensurate with changes in the cost of living.
Mandates a COLA increase for service-connected disability
compensation, additional compensation for dependents, clothing allowance, and
DIC payments for surviving spouses and children, effective 01 December 2025.
Effect on Current and Retired Federal Employees: The legislation
does not directly affect the pay or benefits of VA employees.
However, it requires current VA employees within the Veterans Benefits
Administration (VBA) to execute the administrative adjustment of all
affected compensation rates following the 01 December 2025 effective date.
Major Veterans Bills Passed by the House (05â11 October 2025)
The House of Representatives passed a slate of eight bipartisan bills aimed
at modernizing VA administration, health care, and claims processing.
These bills impose new administrative responsibilities on
the current VA federal workforce.
H.R.
3481 â Delivering Digitally to Our Veterans Act of 2025:
Aims to modernize and streamline the digital interface and service
delivery mechanisms used by the VA.
Effect on Current and Retired Federal Employees: Current VA employees,
particularly in IT and the VBA, will experience changes in workflow as
systems are modernized, with the goal of achieving greater efficiency in
processing claims and veteran requests.
H.R.
1107 â Protecting Veteran Access to Telemedicine Services Act of 2025:
Designed to protect and potentially expand the availability of
telemedicine services for veterans, ensuring continuity of remote care.
Effect on Current and Retired Federal Employees: Current VA medical staff
and clinicians benefit from the statutory backing of telemedicine,
enabling greater patient reach and flexibility in scheduling and delivering
care, potentially alleviating stress on physical VA medical facilities.
H.R.
3579 â Veterans Readiness and Employment Program Integrity Act:
Focuses on improving the oversight, effectiveness, and integrity
of the Veterans Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program.
Effect on Current and Retired Federal Employees: Current VA counselors and VR&E
staff will likely face updated auditing and reporting requirements designed
to increase program transparency and ensure appropriate resource allocation.
H.R.
3854 â Modernizing All Veterans and Survivors Claims Processing Act:
Explicitly targets the acceleration and efficiency of handling all claims
submitted by veterans and survivors.
Effect on Current and Retired Federal Employees: Current VBA claims processors
and examiners will be directly affected by new processing protocols, which
are intended to reduce backlogs and improve overall performance metrics.
H.R.
3400 â TRAVEL Act of 2025:
Addresses reforms related to travel reimbursement procedures for
veterans accessing VA health care.
Effect on Current and Retired Federal Employees: Current VA administrative
staff responsible for processing veteran travel claims will implement the
changes, with the goal of simplifying and expediting reimbursement for veterans.
H.R.
3767 â HPSP Improvement Act of 2025:
Likely focuses on improving the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)
to better attract and retain health care professionals within the VA system.
Effect on Current and Retired Federal Employees: This bill supports the
recruitment of future VA clinicians, benefiting the overall quality and
capacity of the VA health care system by stabilizing the current federal workforce.
H.R.
3494 â VA Hospital Inventory Management System Authorization Act:
Authorizes the modernization of inventory tracking systems within
VA hospitals to improve supply chain efficiency and reduce waste.
Effect on Current and Retired Federal Employees: Current VA logistics and
administrative staff will receive new, modernized tools for managing
supplies, thereby improving operational efficiency within VA medical centers.
H.R.
2334 â Servicemember Residence Protection Act:
Provides specific protections related to housing or residence for servicemembers.
Effect on Current and Retired Federal Employees: While primarily affecting
active duty and reserve members, VA benefits counselors may need
to understand its provisions when advising veterans regarding housing
stability and loan guarantees.
The passage of this significant legislative package underscores
a concerted effort by Congress to drive efficiency and
modernization within the VA system.
However, the successful transition from legislative mandate to operational
reality rests entirely upon the current federal workforce, which must absorb
new technology and protocols (H.R.
3854, H.R.
3494) before the long-term efficiencies can be realized.
PACT Act Implementation and Transparency Shift
The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act remains the largest
health care and benefits expansion in VA history, continuously extending access for
millions of veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.
The VA continues to stress its commitment to providing care and benefits to
generations of veterans and survivors.
A notable procedural change for tracking the PACT Act implementation
took effect this month.
Starting 01 October 2025 (the beginning of Fiscal Year 2026), the VA
transitioned the PACT Act Performance Dashboard from a monthly publication
schedule to a quarterly publication.
The last monthly dashboard published was Issue 53 on 19 September 2025.
The VA maintains that this shift is part of its commitment to transparency and
accountability, ensuring stakeholders are provided with performance metrics.
However, reducing the frequency of reporting inherently decreases the
real-time visibility and public scrutiny of the claims processing progress.
While this move may reduce the administrative burden on VA staff
associated with monthly data compilation, it simultaneously introduces three-month
gaps in official claims data for external watchdogs and Veterans Service
Organizations, impacting immediate public accountability regarding claims
completion rates (which stood at a 73.4
percent approval rate as of early September 2025).
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.