MIL News Weekly 10-16 Aug 2025 (Episode 11)
Download MP3Edward: Welcome to the MIL News Weekly
for 10-16 August 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
National Guard Deployments
and Domestic Security
During this week, a notable development
was the continued deployment of National
Guard forces to Washington, D.C.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced
on Saturday, August 16, 2025, that 150
military police from the Ohio National
Guard would be sent to Washington, D.C.,
to bolster the existing
National Guard presence.
These troops are tasked with "presence
patrols and serving as added security".
This move followed President Donald
Trump's order to deploy the National
Guard to quell what he described as
"complete and total lawlessness" in the
capital, a characterization disputed
by the city government, which noted
a downward trend in violent crime.
The Department of Defense also reported
on August 14, 2025, that the National
Guard mobilized 800 troops in D.C.
to support federal and
local law enforcement.
Furthermore, reports from Military
Times indicated that West Virginia also
dispatched its National Guard to D.C.
at the Trump administration's request.
Protests by D.C.
residents against the military presence
have occurred, although some residents
have supported the initiative.
The city also filed a lawsuit
to block the president's
takeover of the Washington D.C.
police department; however, the
administration agreed on Friday, August
15, 2025, to allow the Washington D.C.
police department chief
to remain in charge.
The city's residents were granted the
right to elect their own local government
when Congress passed the District
of Columbia Home Rule Act of 1973.
The sustained and reinforced
deployment of National Guard units from
multiple states to Washington, D.C.,
by the Department of Defense
suggests a persistent and potentially
escalating domestic security concern,
particularly in the nation's capital.
The initial deployment, justified by
claims of "lawlessness," indicates a
perceived breakdown of civil order.
The subsequent reinforcement from Ohio
and West Virginia, along with the broader
mobilization of 800 troops, signifies
the federal government's belief that an
extended military presence is necessary.
This trend could imply a broader
shift in how domestic disturbances
are managed, potentially normalizing
the use of military forces in
civilian law enforcement roles.
It also highlights the ongoing tension
between federal control and local
governance, as evidenced by D.C.'s
legal challenge to the federal
takeover of its police department.
This situation raises critical questions
about the balance of power and the
appropriate role of the National
Guard in internal security operations.
The Servicemember Quality of
Life Improvement and National
Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2025 (H.R.
8070)
This pivotal piece of legislation, H.R.
8070, is designed to authorize
appropriations for fiscal year
2025 for military activities and to
prescribe military personnel strengths.
While the bill passed the House
on June 14, 2024 , its provisions
and ongoing discussions around its
implementation remain highly relevant
for the August 10-16, 2025 period, as
indicated by the House Armed Services
Committee's tracking of amendments.
The full text of H.R.
8070 can be accessed via
the House Rules Committee.
Key Amendments Impacting Active
Duty and Reserve Personnel:
Beyond legislative actions, several
other developments impacted active duty
and reserve forces during the week.
Enlisted recruiting numbers were
reported to be up over the last
six months as of August 14, 2025.
Additionally, the Department of Defense
noted on August 15, 2025, that more
women are enlisting in the military.
The DoD is moving forward with a
Permanent Change of Station (PCS)
overhaul following the termination of
the HomeSafe Alliance contract, with
a Joint Task Force actively working
to improve the relocation experience
for military and civilian families
during the 2025 PCS season and beyond.
However, Stars and Stripes
reported on August 15, 2025, that
budget problems prompted the Air
Force to pause some PCS moves.
Regarding the defense industrial
base, the Office of Strategic Capital
announced its first loan through a
DoD agreement with MP Materials on
August 10, 2025, aimed at securing
the critical materials supply chain.
The Defense Contract Management Agency
also delivered new capabilities in
P-8A Poseidon upgrades on August 14,
2025, increasing warfighter lethality.
The concurrent news of increased
recruiting numbers alongside ongoing
Permanent Change of Station (PCS)
challenges and legislative efforts to
improve quality of life suggests a complex
landscape where recruitment successes
may be offset by persistent logistical
and quality-of-life issues that remain
top priorities for the DoD and Congress.
While the reported increase in recruiting
numbers is a positive indicator for
force strength, the continued focus on
PCS overhauls and the Air Force pausing
moves due to funding indicate that
the military is still grappling with
fundamental logistical and financial
challenges in personnel management.
The legislative efforts in the NDAA to
address housing, childcare, and family
separation further underscore that
these are not fully resolved issues.
This implies that while the military
may be attracting new talent,
retaining it and ensuring overall
force readiness requires sustained
attention to the daily realities faced
by service members and their families.
The international engagements
and industrial base developments
highlight the broader strategic
and operational context in which
these personnel issues are situated.
Issues That Affect
Retired Military Personnel
FY25 National Defense
Authorization Act (H.R.
8070) Impact on Retired Federal Employees
As discussed, H.R.
8070 contains provisions
that also extend to retired
personnel and federal employees.
Amendment 78 codifies existing DoD
Morale, Welfare, and Recreation (MWR)
retail facility policy, explicitly
permitting DoD civilians and retirees
to use MWR retail facilities on the
same basis as active duty members.
This ensures continued access to valuable
services for the retired community.
Regarding financial benefits, Amendment
156 changes how the Soldier's Medal
affects military retirement pay.
While the specific nature of the change is
not detailed, it indicates a legislative
adjustment to retirement compensation
for those with this distinguished award.
Security clearances are also addressed, as
Amendment 71 revokes security clearances
for retired or separated civilian and/or
military Department of Defense personnel
who lobby for certain Chinese companies.
This measure aims to address
national security concerns related
to foreign influence, impacting a
specific subset of retired personnel.
Healthcare access through
TRICARE is also a focus.
Amendment 97 requires a report on TRICARE
program copays related to outpatient
mental health or behavioral health
care, and Amendment 82 requires a report
evaluating beneficiary access to TRICARE
network pharmacies under the TPharm5
contract compared to the TPharm4 contract.
These amendments aim to assess
and potentially improve healthcare
access for TRICARE beneficiaries,
which include military retirees.
H.R.
8070's provisions for retired military
personnel and federal employees primarily
focus on clarifying and expanding
access to existing benefits like MWR
facilities and addressing specific
financial or security concerns, rather
than introducing broad new entitlements.
The amendment allowing retirees to
use MWR facilities is a codification
of existing policy, not a new
benefit, suggesting an effort to
formalize and protect current access.
The security clearance revocation
is a targeted measure to protect
national security, impacting a
specific subset of retirees engaged
in certain lobbying activities.
The TRICARE amendments are about
assessing and improving access to
existing healthcare benefits, indicating
ongoing efforts to optimize the system
rather than a fundamental overhaul.
This suggests that while there are
continuous refinements to benefits and
policies, the core framework of retired
military and federal employee benefits
remains largely stable, with legislative
focus on operational improvements
and specific policy adjustments.
VA Disability Payments for August 2025
For August 2025, veterans with a 100%
VA disability rating will receive a
base monthly benefit of $3,831.30.
An additional $839 is available for those
with qualifying dependents, specifically
a spouse and two dependent children, or
for veterans who meet certain criteria
for Special Monthly Compensation (SMC).
This brings the total possible monthly
payment to $4,670, which is tax-free.
These payments for August
2025 are scheduled to be sent
on Friday, August 29, 2025.
This reflects the 2.5%
cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for 2025,
which was announced on October 9, 2024,
by the Social Security Administration.
This COLA impacts various VA benefits,
including disability compensation,
clothing allowances, and Dependency
and Indemnity Compensation.
Implications of VA
Terminating Union Contracts
A significant development impacting
federal employees, including many who
are retired military or work alongside
them, was the Department of Veterans
Affairs' termination of union contracts
for most bargaining-unit employees.
This move, effective August
6, 2025, affects approximately
360,000 healthcare workers.
The VA stated this action was in response
to an executive order signed by President
Donald Trump in March, which aimed to curb
collective bargaining rights for federal
workers in the name of national security.
The VA claims this will allow staff to
"spend more time with Veterans" and enable
managers to more easily hire, promote,
reward high-performing employees, and
hold underperforming staff accountable.
The agency cited that nearly 2,000 union
employees spent over 750,000 hours on
"taxpayer-funded union time" in 2024,
which could now be redirected to serving
veterans instead of union activities.
Union leaders, including the American
Federation of Government Employees
(AFGE), have strongly protested this
decision, calling it a "setback for
fundamental rights" and accusing VA
Secretary Doug Collins of retaliating
against union members for speaking out
against the administration's policies,
and of working to "privatize" VA services.
AFGE National President Everett Kelley
criticized Collins for attacking
VA workers' rights, stating the
decision was "another clear example
of retaliation against AFGE members
for speaking out against the illegal,
anti-worker, and anti-veteran
policies of this administration".
Contracts covering VA police officers,
firefighters, and security guards
are not impacted, as these roles
are exempt from the executive order.
The VA's termination of union
contracts represents a significant,
politically charged restructuring
of its workforce management, with
potential long-term implications for
service delivery, employee morale, and
the future of federal employee unions.
This executive action, justified by the
VA as a means to increase efficiency
and focus on veteran service, directly
impacts hundreds of thousands of federal
workers, many of whom are veterans
themselves or serve veterans directly.
The stated goals of eliminating
"taxpayer-funded union time" and
streamlining personnel management
suggest a move towards greater
managerial control and potentially
a more performance-driven culture.
However, the strong union opposition,
accusations of "privatization," and
ongoing legal challenges indicate
potential disruptions to service
delivery, decreased employee morale,
and a protracted legal battle.
This could lead to a more centralized,
top-down management approach at the
VA but also risks alienating a large
segment of its experienced workforce,
which could indirectly affect the
quality and consistency of care
for veterans, including retirees.
This is a clear cause-and-effect
relationship between executive action
and workforce impact, with potential
ripple effects on service quality.
Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs
This section provides a comprehensive
overview of developments within the
Department of Veterans Affairs, including
initiatives, policy changes, and service
improvements for all veterans, with a
particular focus on disabled veterans.
Record-Breaking VA Claims Processing
The Department of Veterans Affairs
announced on August 13, 2025,
a significant milestone: it has
processed more disability benefits
compensation and pension ratings claims
in a single year than ever before.
In fiscal year 2024, the VA processed
a total of 2,517,519 ratings claims.
By August 8, 2025ânearly two months
before the end of FY25âthe department
had already issued an all-time
high of 2,524,115 ratings claims.
Since President Trump's inauguration
on January 20, the backlog of Veterans
waiting for VA benefits has dropped
by over 37%, reversing a 24% increase
during the previous administration.
In July 2025, the VA completed
more than 300,000 ratings claims
in a single month for the first
time ever, processing claims 17.8%
faster in FY25 than in FY24, even
with a 10% increase in receipts.
VA Secretary Doug Collins attributed
these achievements to major improvements
under President Trump, emphasizing
a commitment to further reforms for
enhanced customer service and convenience.
The record-breaking VA claims
processing numbers suggest a significant
improvement in the efficiency and
capacity of the VA benefits system,
potentially leading to faster access
to critical support for veterans.
The quantitative dataâprocessing
more claims than ever before, a
37% reduction in backlog, faster
processing despite increased receipts,
and the first-ever month with over
300,000 claimsâclearly indicates
a successful operational overhaul.
This implies that strategic changes
in processes, technology (such
as the accelerated deployment of
the integrated electronic health
record system ), or staffing have
yielded tangible improvements.
The direct benefit is a reduction
in wait times for veterans seeking
benefits, which is crucial for their
financial stability and well-being.
This also suggests a positive trend in
the VA's ability to manage increasing
demand for services, especially with
the PACT Act expanding eligibility.
P.A.C.T.
Act Implementation and
Toxic Exposure Benefits
The Sergeant First Class (SFC) Heath
Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address
Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act continues
to expand VA health care and benefits
for Veterans exposed to burn pits, Agent
Orange, and other toxic substances.
This law is considered the
largest healthcare and benefit
expansion in VA history.
Key changes include expanding and
extending eligibility for VA health care
for Veterans with toxic exposures from
the Vietnam, Gulf War, and post-9/11 eras.
It adds over 20 new presumptive
conditions for burn pits, Agent Orange,
and other toxic exposures, along with
more presumptive-exposure locations.
Notably, the PACT Act adds high
blood pressure (hypertension) and
monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined
significance (MGUS) as new Agent
Orange presumptive conditions.
The law also requires the VA to provide a
toxic exposure screening to every Veteran
enrolled in VA health care and aims to
improve research, staff education, and
treatment related to toxic exposures.
Veterans and survivors are
encouraged to file claims now
for PACT Act-related benefits.
The ongoing implementation of the PACT
Act represents a monumental expansion of
VA healthcare and benefits, fundamentally
altering eligibility and access for a vast
cohort of veterans with toxic exposures.
The PACT Act's broad scopeâexpanding
eligibility, adding numerous presumptive
conditions and locations, and mandating
toxic exposure screeningsâsignifies a
proactive and comprehensive approach to
addressing long-standing health issues
linked to military toxic exposures.
This is a direct response to historical
gaps in care and recognition for veterans
who previously struggled to prove
service connection for their illnesses.
The specific inclusion of hypertension
and MGUS for Agent Orange exposure, for
instance, provides a clearer path to
benefits for many affected veterans.
This expansion will likely lead to a
further increase in claims and a greater
demand for specialized care, reinforcing
the critical importance of the VA's
improved claims processing capacity.
VA Service Delivery Enhancements
The VA is actively engaged in
modernizing its service delivery
to enhance convenience and
responsiveness for veterans.
On August 11, 2025, the VA announced that
eligible Veterans can now submit and track
"mileage-only" travel claims directly
from a smartphone or mobile device via
the VA Health and Benefits mobile app.
This digital enhancement streamlines
a common administrative process.
The VA also announced on August 4, 2025,
that it will offer yearlong community
care authorizations for 30 services,
extending eligibility for standardized
types of care for a full year.
This change aims to provide greater
continuity of care outside VA facilities.
Other highlights from the VA's
accomplishments include opening 16
new health care clinics nationwide and
offering nearly 1 million appointments
outside of normal operating hours
(early-morning, evening, and weekend)
since January 20, providing Veterans with
more timely and convenient care options.
The VA has also made it easier and
faster for VA-enrolled Veterans to
access care from non-VA providers
at the department's expense.
Furthermore, the VA is accelerating
the deployment of its integrated
electronic health record system, which
was nearly dormant for almost two years
under the previous administration.
The VA's ongoing efforts to modernize
service delivery through technology
(mobile app, EHR) and expand access
to care (new clinics, extended
hours, community care) reflect a
strategic push to enhance convenience
and responsiveness for veterans.
The introduction of the mobile app for
travel claims and the acceleration of
the electronic health record system
demonstrate a clear commitment to
digital transformation, aiming to
reduce administrative burdens and
improve data flow within the VA.
Extending community care authorizations
and offering more appointments outside
standard hours directly address
common veteran complaints about
access and wait times, indicating a
focus on patient-centric care models.
These initiatives suggest a recognition
that traditional service models may no
longer meet the diverse needs of the
veteran population, and that leveraging
technology and flexible access points
is crucial for future service excellence
and overall veteran satisfaction.
Updated VA Mission Statement
On Thursday, August 14, 2025, the
VA announced an updated version
of its 1959 mission statement.
The new mission statement is: "To
fulfill President Lincoln's promise
to care for those who have served in
our nation's military and for their
families, caregivers, and survivors".
This updated statement is designed
to be inclusive of all who have
served, including women Veterans,
as well as Veteran families,
caregivers, and survivors.
It was chosen by every age group, by men
and women, by LGBTQ+ Veterans, and by
various racial and ethnic groups in a
survey of approximately 30,000 Veterans.
The previous mission statement was:
"To fulfill President Lincoln's
promise 'to care for him who
shall have borne the battle, and
for his widow, and his orphan'".
The updated VA Mission Statement is not
merely a symbolic change but a deliberate,
data-driven effort to reflect the evolving
demographics and comprehensive needs of
the modern veteran community, explicitly
acknowledging the roles of women,
families, caregivers, and survivors.
The previous mission statement,
while historically significant,
was gender-specific and limited
in its scope of beneficiaries.
The new statement's explicit inclusion
of "all Veterans," "women Veterans,"
and "families, caregivers, and
survivors" is a direct response to the
increasing diversity of the veteran
population and the recognition that
comprehensive care extends beyond
the individual service member.
The fact that it was chosen by every
demographic in extensive surveys
underscores its broad acceptance and
strategic intent to ensure that all who
interact with the VA feel seen and served.
This change is foundational, guiding
the VA's strategic direction and public
perception towards a more inclusive and
holistic approach to veteran support.
Ongoing Challenges and
Areas for Improvement
Despite significant VA achievements
and legislative efforts,
persistent challenges remain.
Stars and Stripes reported on August 15,
2025, that Virginia is suing the VA over
denied education benefits for veterans.
This highlights that individual and
systemic issues can persist even amidst
overall improvements in claims processing.
Another report from Stars and Stripes on
August 15, 2025, noted that Vietnam-era
veterans given hallucinogens in secret
experiments face VA denials for back pay.
This points to ongoing struggles
for recognition and compensation
for historical injustices.
There is also a growing demand for service
dogs, which has unleashed a congressional
effort to fund their training and
placement with disabled veterans.
Despite significant VA achievements
and legislative efforts, persistent
challenges remain, including legal
disputes over benefits and historical
injustices, highlighting the ongoing need
for advocacy and oversight to ensure all
veterans receive their earned support.
While the VA celebrates its
record-breaking claims processing and
implements new initiatives, the news
of Virginia suing over denied education
benefits and Vietnam-era veterans facing
denials for back pay related to secret
experiments reveals that systemic issues
and individual grievances persist.
These contradictions suggest that
operational improvements do not
automatically resolve all historical or
complex cases, and that legal and advocacy
avenues remain crucial for veterans.
This underscores the continuous need for
vigilance and accountability to ensure
that all veterans receive the benefits
and recognition they are due, even as
the VA strives for overall efficiency.
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.
