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Edward: Welcome to the MIL News Weekly
for 5 - 11 October 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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Operational Impacts of the Government
Shutdown (01 October 2025 Onward)

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The primary issue confronting active and
reserve military personnel during the

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week of 05 October through 11 October 2025
was the continuation of duty without pay.

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The lapse in appropriations, effective
since 1 October 2025, mandated that

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active-duty personnel and Active Reserve
members must continue reporting for duty

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and executing assigned tasks, particularly
those supporting national security.

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However, under current contingency
guidance, no pay or entitlements

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were disbursed, leaving personnel
unpaid until Congress passes a

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Continuing Resolution or the Fiscal
Year 2026 Defense Appropriations Act.

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Once legislative action restores
funding, all backpay is mandated

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to be provided retroactively.

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This financial uncertainty places
a dual burden on the force.

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Although military personnel are
considered essential and legally

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required to report (an excepted
activity), the reliance on independent

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support mechanisms is heightened.

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Non-appropriated fund (NAF)
activities, such as exchanges

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and commissaries, remained fully
operational across installations

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because they are funded separately
from the annual appropriations process.

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This NAF network, coupled with essential
Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR)

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programs (like dining facilities,
physical training, and essential

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childcare), provides a crucial financial
and logistical buffer for families

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facing immediate financial hardship.

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Furthermore, emergency support
resources, including the Military

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OneSource call center, the Navy-Marine
Corps Relief Society, crisis

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intervention, and religious counseling,
continued without interruption.

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Operational impacts extended beyond pay.

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Non-essential training and
travel faced restrictions.

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Inactive Duty Training (IDT) drills
for reservists were permitted only

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if they supported excepted functions;
otherwise, Reserve component Marines

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were instructed to return home.

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Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves
were limited to those ordered before

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01 October 2025, or those directly
associated with critical, excepted

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activities, such as accession and
initial entry training, which proceed

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to maintain recruitment pipelines.

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Legislative Progress:
Authorization and Appropriations

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Amidst the shutdown, the Senate
achieved a major legislative milestone.

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On 9 October 2025, the Senate passed S.

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2296, the National Defense Authorization
Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026.

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This comprehensive measure authorizes
appropriations for defense activities,

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military construction, and personnel
strengths for the coming fiscal year.

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The passage of the NDAA is a
necessary political step but is not

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sufficient to resolve the pay lapse.

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The NDAA grants the legislative
authority for the Department of Defense

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to spend funds, but the actual release
of money requires the passage of the

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appropriations bill, specifically H.R.

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3944, the Military Construction
and Veterans Affairs, Agriculture,

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and Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, 2026, or a

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short-term Continuing Resolution.

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Therefore, despite the Senate’s action
on 09 October 2025, the financial anxiety

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for active duty members will persist until
the appropriations process is finalized.

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Key Policy and Benefits Extensions

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Two significant, favorable policy
changes directly affecting active duty

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and reserve components took effect
this week, providing a measure of

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security during the fiscal uncertainty.

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First, a critical extension of the
TRICARE Reserve Select (TRS) Survivor

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Benefit took effect on 1 October 2025.

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This change allows survivors of
non-activated National Guard or

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Reserve members who held TRS coverage
at the time of the sponsor's death to

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continue or purchase coverage for up
to three years from the date of death.

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This is a massive expansion from the
previous six-month benefit period for

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sponsors who died prior to 1 October 2025.

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By providing up to three years of stable,
affordable health coverage, this policy

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significantly reduces the immediate
financial and medical insecurity faced by

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surviving families, enhancing the overall
security proposition of reserve service.

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Second, the expiration date for the
Reserve Income Replacement Program

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was extended from December 31, 2024,
to December 31, 2025, via Section

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611(a) of related legislation.

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This program is essential for providing
income replacement payments to certain

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Reserve component members who experience
extended and frequent mobilization for

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active-duty service, offering vital
economic stability for those frequently

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cycling in and out of active status.

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Finally, the DoD implemented a final
rule amending the Defense Federal

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Acquisition Regulation Supplement
(DFARS) to implement inflation adjustment

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requirements, effective 1 October 2025.

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This adjustment, mandated by 41 U.S.C.

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1908, ensures ongoing adjustments in
government contract costs, a measure

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vital for maintaining operational
readiness and procurement stability.

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Issues That Affect
Retired Military Personnel

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The Critical 2026 Cost-of-Living
Adjustment Outlook

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For retired military personnel and
all federal annuitants, the news focus

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during 5 October through 11 October 2025
centered on the pending calculation for

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

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Retirees previously received a 2.5

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percent COLA for Civil Service
Retirement System (CSRS) annuities,

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military retirement annuities, and
Social Security benefits in January

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2025; Federal Employees Retirement
System (FERS) annuities received a 2.0

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percent COLA.

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The calculation for the 2026 COLA
relies on measuring the percentage

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change in the Consumer Price Index
for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical

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Workers (CPI-W) between the third
quarter (Q3) of 2024 and Q3 of 2025.

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Data released in this period indicated
the August 2025 CPI-W figure showed a 0.30

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percent increase over the previous month.

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The decisive data point, the CPI-W figure
for September 2025, which finalizes

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the Q3 average, is scheduled for
release on Wednesday, 15 October 2025.

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The anticipation surrounding the 15
October 2025 data release is immense

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because the same economic metric—the
Q3 CPI-W—drives the adjustments for

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military retired pay, Social Security,
and, by legislative mandate (S.

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2392), VA disability compensation.

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This statutory linkage confirms that
the financial outlook for nearly

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all federal annuitants and disabled
veterans rests upon this single

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forthcoming government economic release.

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TRICARE West Region Contractor
Transition Logistics

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Retired military beneficiaries relying
on TRICARE faced operational changes

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this week following the contractor
transition in the West Region.

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TriWest Healthcare Alliance has assumed
the role of the new regional contractor.

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This transition is particularly relevant
for retirees living in the six states

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that moved from the East Region to
the West Region: Arkansas, Illinois,

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Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin.

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A critical logistical deadline
was 30 September 2025.

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This date marked the expiration
point for active referrals and

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pre-authorizations issued by the previous
contractors (HNFS or Humana Military),

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unless the referral expired earlier.

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The week of 05 October 2025 represents
the immediate post-deadline period.

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Retirees who failed to secure new TriWest
referrals or update payment information

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face the risk of service interruptions
or non-covered specialty care.

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Beneficiaries affected by the
region change are strongly advised

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to proactively engage with TriWest
immediately to establish new accounts,

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confirm coverage, and secure new
provider network referrals, as the

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transition is now fully operational.

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Congressional Action
Affecting Federal Employees

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One recently enacted law, while
primarily focused on the current

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VA federal workforce, has long-term
positive implications for retirees.

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S.

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423, the PRO Veterans Act of 2025, which
passed earlier this year, authorizes

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the VA to provide critical skill
incentives to senior-level VA employees.

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This law directly aids current VA
federal employees by offering specialized

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retention pay, particularly for employees
whose positions, though primarily

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at the VA central office, perform
functions at other VA facilities.

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The intention is to stabilize
and retain high-quality

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leadership and clinical talent.

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For retired federal employees,
this legislation contributes to the

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quality of service provided by the VA.

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A more stable and highly skilled
VA workforce ultimately enhances

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the reliability, efficiency, and
quality of the health care and

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benefits system upon which millions
of military retirees depend.

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Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs

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Financial Continuity
and Legislative Mandates

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Despite the government shutdown that
began on 01 October 2025, VA disability

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benefits for the month of October
2025 were distributed on Wednesday, 01

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October 2025, the first day of the month.

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This continuity of payment, in sharp
contrast to the immediate pay lapse

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experienced by active duty personnel,
is possible because mandatory veteran

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benefits are typically funded a
year in advance, providing essential

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financial stability for disabled
veterans during times of fiscal crisis.

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The current base compensation for a
veteran with a 100 percent disability

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rating is $3,831, with the maximum
possible payment for a veteran with

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qualifying dependents reaching $4,388.

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The legislative efforts in Congress
during the week of 05 October through

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11 October 2025 focused heavily
on ensuring future financial and

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administrative stability for veterans.

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Key Veterans Affairs
Legislation Passed by Congress

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S.

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2392 – Veterans’ Compensation
Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025

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This bill proposes to increase the
rates of compensation for veterans

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with service-connected disabilities
and the rates of Dependency and

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Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for their
survivors, effective 1 December 2025.

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The mandated percentage increase
will be equal to the percentage

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increase determined for Social
Security benefits (the 2026 COLA).

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This legislation ensures that disabled
veterans and their survivors receive

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compensation increases commensurate
with changes in the cost of living.

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Mandates a COLA increase for
service-connected disability

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compensation, additional compensation
for dependents, clothing allowance, and

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DIC payments for surviving spouses and
children, effective 01 December 2025.

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Effect on Current and Retired
Federal Employees: The legislation

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does not directly affect the
pay or benefits of VA employees.

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However, it requires current VA
employees within the Veterans Benefits

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Administration (VBA) to execute the
administrative adjustment of all

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affected compensation rates following
the 01 December 2025 effective date.

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Major Veterans Bills Passed by
the House (05–11 October 2025)

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The House of Representatives passed a
slate of eight bipartisan bills aimed

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at modernizing VA administration,
health care, and claims processing.

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These bills impose new
administrative responsibilities on

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the current VA federal workforce.

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H.R.

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3481 – Delivering Digitally
to Our Veterans Act of 2025:

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Aims to modernize and streamline
the digital interface and service

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delivery mechanisms used by the VA.

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Effect on Current and Retired Federal
Employees: Current VA employees,

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particularly in IT and the VBA, will
experience changes in workflow as

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systems are modernized, with the goal
of achieving greater efficiency in

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processing claims and veteran requests.

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H.R.

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1107 – Protecting Veteran Access to
Telemedicine Services Act of 2025:

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Designed to protect and potentially
expand the availability of

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telemedicine services for veterans,
ensuring continuity of remote care.

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Effect on Current and Retired Federal
Employees: Current VA medical staff

00:12:25.387 --> 00:12:28.657
and clinicians benefit from the
statutory backing of telemedicine,

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enabling greater patient reach and
flexibility in scheduling and delivering

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care, potentially alleviating stress
on physical VA medical facilities.

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H.R.

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3579 – Veterans Readiness and
Employment Program Integrity Act:

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Focuses on improving the oversight,
effectiveness, and integrity

00:12:44.460 --> 00:12:47.490
of the Veterans Readiness and
Employment (VR&E) program.

00:12:47.867 --> 00:12:52.447
Effect on Current and Retired Federal
Employees: Current VA counselors and VR&E

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staff will likely face updated auditing
and reporting requirements designed

00:12:56.907 --> 00:13:01.327
to increase program transparency and
ensure appropriate resource allocation.

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H.R.

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3854 – Modernizing All Veterans and
Survivors Claims Processing Act:

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Explicitly targets the acceleration
and efficiency of handling all claims

00:13:11.857 --> 00:13:13.707
submitted by veterans and survivors.

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Effect on Current and Retired Federal
Employees: Current VBA claims processors

00:13:18.743 --> 00:13:23.233
and examiners will be directly affected
by new processing protocols, which

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are intended to reduce backlogs and
improve overall performance metrics.

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H.R.

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3400 – TRAVEL Act of 2025:

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Addresses reforms related to
travel reimbursement procedures for

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veterans accessing VA health care.

00:13:36.088 --> 00:13:40.058
Effect on Current and Retired Federal
Employees: Current VA administrative

00:13:40.058 --> 00:13:43.718
staff responsible for processing
veteran travel claims will implement the

00:13:43.718 --> 00:13:48.288
changes, with the goal of simplifying and
expediting reimbursement for veterans.

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H.R.

00:13:49.167 --> 00:13:52.077
3767 – HPSP Improvement Act of 2025:

00:13:52.418 --> 00:13:56.788
Likely focuses on improving the Health
Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP)

00:13:57.048 --> 00:14:00.348
to better attract and retain health
care professionals within the VA system.

00:14:00.731 --> 00:14:04.311
Effect on Current and Retired Federal
Employees: This bill supports the

00:14:04.311 --> 00:14:08.321
recruitment of future VA clinicians,
benefiting the overall quality and

00:14:08.321 --> 00:14:12.691
capacity of the VA health care system by
stabilizing the current federal workforce.

00:14:13.038 --> 00:14:13.538
H.R.

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3494 – VA Hospital Inventory
Management System Authorization Act:

00:14:18.193 --> 00:14:21.523
Authorizes the modernization of
inventory tracking systems within

00:14:21.523 --> 00:14:25.473
VA hospitals to improve supply
chain efficiency and reduce waste.

00:14:25.865 --> 00:14:29.865
Effect on Current and Retired Federal
Employees: Current VA logistics and

00:14:29.865 --> 00:14:33.475
administrative staff will receive
new, modernized tools for managing

00:14:33.475 --> 00:14:37.535
supplies, thereby improving operational
efficiency within VA medical centers.

00:14:37.807 --> 00:14:38.217
H.R.

00:14:38.217 --> 00:14:40.917
2334 – Servicemember
Residence Protection Act:

00:14:41.210 --> 00:14:45.180
Provides specific protections related to
housing or residence for servicemembers.

00:14:45.509 --> 00:14:49.719
Effect on Current and Retired Federal
Employees: While primarily affecting

00:14:49.719 --> 00:14:53.249
active duty and reserve members,
VA benefits counselors may need

00:14:53.249 --> 00:14:56.659
to understand its provisions when
advising veterans regarding housing

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stability and loan guarantees.

00:14:58.635 --> 00:15:01.605
The passage of this significant
legislative package underscores

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a concerted effort by Congress
to drive efficiency and

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modernization within the VA system.

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However, the successful transition
from legislative mandate to operational

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reality rests entirely upon the current
federal workforce, which must absorb

00:15:15.865 --> 00:15:18.485
new technology and protocols (H.R.

00:15:18.485 --> 00:15:19.895
3854, H.R.

00:15:19.895 --> 00:15:23.595
3494) before the long-term
efficiencies can be realized.

00:15:23.925 --> 00:15:26.305
PACT Act Implementation
and Transparency Shift

00:15:26.685 --> 00:15:31.765
The Promise to Address Comprehensive
Toxics (PACT) Act remains the largest

00:15:31.765 --> 00:15:36.485
health care and benefits expansion in VA
history, continuously extending access for

00:15:36.485 --> 00:15:41.495
millions of veterans exposed to burn pits,
Agent Orange, and other toxic substances.

00:15:42.015 --> 00:15:45.635
The VA continues to stress its commitment
to providing care and benefits to

00:15:45.635 --> 00:15:47.575
generations of veterans and survivors.

00:15:47.924 --> 00:15:51.504
A notable procedural change for
tracking the PACT Act implementation

00:15:51.534 --> 00:15:52.764
took effect this month.

00:15:53.254 --> 00:15:58.614
Starting 01 October 2025 (the
beginning of Fiscal Year 2026), the VA

00:15:58.614 --> 00:16:02.514
transitioned the PACT Act Performance
Dashboard from a monthly publication

00:16:02.514 --> 00:16:04.654
schedule to a quarterly publication.

00:16:05.264 --> 00:16:10.004
The last monthly dashboard published
was Issue 53 on 19 September 2025.

00:16:10.478 --> 00:16:14.848
The VA maintains that this shift is part
of its commitment to transparency and

00:16:14.848 --> 00:16:18.908
accountability, ensuring stakeholders
are provided with performance metrics.

00:16:19.298 --> 00:16:23.698
However, reducing the frequency of
reporting inherently decreases the

00:16:23.698 --> 00:16:27.868
real-time visibility and public scrutiny
of the claims processing progress.

00:16:28.388 --> 00:16:31.848
While this move may reduce the
administrative burden on VA staff

00:16:31.848 --> 00:16:36.588
associated with monthly data compilation,
it simultaneously introduces three-month

00:16:36.668 --> 00:16:40.638
gaps in official claims data for
external watchdogs and Veterans Service

00:16:40.638 --> 00:16:44.908
Organizations, impacting immediate
public accountability regarding claims

00:16:44.908 --> 00:16:47.928
completion rates (which stood at a 73.4

00:16:47.928 --> 00:16:50.948
percent approval rate as
of early September 2025).

00:16:51.521 --> 00:16:53.001
And that's your Weekly Briefing.

00:16:53.381 --> 00:16:57.001
Staying on top of these changes
is key to navigating your career,

00:16:57.031 --> 00:16:59.061
your retirement, and your benefits.

00:16:59.446 --> 00:17:00.326
Thank you for tuning in.

00:17:00.656 --> 00:17:04.456
Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your
podcasts, so you never miss an update.

00:17:04.856 --> 00:17:07.936
We’ll be back next week with another
roundup of the news that matters most

00:17:07.936 --> 00:17:09.816
to the military and veteran community.