MIL News Weekly

Edward: Welcome to the MIL News Weekly
for 19-25 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.

We’ll 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.

Here’s what’s happened this past week.

Issues That Affect Active and
Reserve Military Personnel

The most pressing issue for active
duty and reserve forces between October

eighteenth and October twenty-fifth was
the financial uncertainty created by the

prolonged federal government shutdown,
which commenced on October first due to a

failure in congressional appropriations.

The Government Shutdown, Executive
Authority, and Pay Stability

The primary concern was the
rapidly approaching financial

cliff for military personnel.

Although the Trump administration
had previously intervened to cover

the October fifteenth pay date,
this stopgap measure relied on the

controversial repurposing of Department
of Defense funds, and the protection

it offered was nearing its expiration.

The Looming Threat of Missed Compensation

Analysts warned that without congressional
action, October thirty-first, two

thousand twenty-five, represented the
projected date when members across

all military branches would miss
a paycheck for the first time in

history due to a government shutdown.

The scope of the population
affected included approximately 1.3

million active-duty personnel and
more than 750,000 National Guard

and reserve personnel who were
required to continue serving without

guaranteed immediate compensation.

Crucially, while the media spotlight
focused intensely on active-duty

military pay, the financial uncertainty
was already acute for other critical

components of the defense apparatus.

Roughly 730,000 federal employees, many
of whom are essential DoD and VA civilian

workers, were required to report to duty
as "excepted" personnel, but without pay.

For many civilian employees, the first
pay date resulting in zero pay had already

occurred on October twenty-fourth, two
thousand twenty-five, severely impacting

the local economies and military
communities that rely on these wages.

Furthermore, reserve component personnel
often rely on military drill pay to

supplement civilian income, making
the uncertainty surrounding continued

compensation particularly disruptive for
their ability to maintain operational

readiness and financial stability.

Legal Controversy over
Executive Funding Maneuvers

The administration’s previous action to
fund active-duty pay for the mid-October

cycle involved repurposing a reported
$8 billion in Department of Defense

research and development (R&D) funds.

This unilateral decision, while
intended to alleviate immediate

hardship for service members, generated
widespread legal condemnation.

Experts specializing in the separation
of powers argued that this action was

taken without any specific congressional
authorization for troop payment for the

new fiscal year, constituting a breach of
fundamental federal appropriations law.

Legal scholars characterized
the move as a highly significant

encroachment upon Congress's
constitutional "power of the purse".

The repurposing of R&D funds for salary
payments was explicitly called "super

duper duper illegal" by critics, who cited
violations of the Antideficiency Act.

This violation occurs when funds
appropriated by Congress for one

specified purpose (such as R&D)
are used for another unauthorized

purpose (such as compensation).

The significant danger cited by legal
analysts is not merely the technical

violation, but the dangerous precedent it
establishes: if the executive branch can

unilaterally reallocate funding to cover
military pay during a budget lapse, it

weakens congressional oversight and could
set the stage for future presidents to

fund other controversial decisions without
legislative approval, including the

domestic deployment of military forces.

Adding another layer of complexity
to the funding solution, the Pentagon

confirmed during this period that
it accepted a contribution of $130

million from a reclusive billionaire
identified as Timothy Mellon, accepted

under the DoD's general gift acceptance
authority, intended to further supplement

military pay during the shutdown.

This blending of executive action,
repurposed defense appropriations,

and private philanthropy underscored
the unique depth of the fiscal crisis

confronting the military community.

Compensation Outlook: The 2025
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)

Amidst the fiscal uncertainty of the
shutdown, the Department of Defense

delivered clarity regarding future
compensation by formally releasing

the two thousand twenty-five Basic
Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates.

The DoD announced that the two thousand
twenty-five BAH rates are scheduled

to increase by an average of 5.4

percent nationwide, with the new
rates taking effect on January

first, two thousand twenty-five.

This adjustment is projected to
distribute an estimated $29.2

billion to approximately
one million Service members.

This figure represents a robust effort
to align housing allowances with

prevailing market costs, which have
risen significantly across the country.

The BAH rate-setting process is
comprehensive, relying on the

analysis of 299 military housing
areas (including Alaska and Hawaii).

The computation integrates data from
diverse sources, including the U.S.

Census Bureau survey data, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer

Price Index, commercial rental cost
databases, and direct input from local

military installation housing offices.

This rigorous methodology ensures that
median market rents and average utility

costs (covering electricity, heat, and
water/sewer) are accurately factored

into the housing costs determined for
six different housing profiles based on

dwelling type and number of bedrooms.

It is important for service
members to recognize that despite

the significant average increase
in BAH, the DoD maintained the

established five percent national
average housing cost-sharing element.

This means that service members must
continue to contribute a portion of

their housing costs out of pocket.

For the two thousand twenty-five rates,
these required monthly contributions

vary by pay grade and dependency
status, ranging from $90 to $202.

This sustained cost-sharing element
means that the allowance, though

generous and necessary, does not fully
cover 100 percent of housing costs

for all service members, requiring
careful personal financial planning.

Legislative Action and
Geopolitical Context

Congressional activities during
this week focused both on

immediate fiscal stabilization
and long-term defense planning.

Addressing Funding Instability:
The Shutdown Fairness Act (S.3012)

Senate Bill S.3012,

known as the Shutdown Fairness
Act, was identified as

active in the 119th Congress.

This bill is intended to provide
legislative certainty to the

compensation crisis experienced in
October two thousand twenty-five.

If enacted, S.3012

would ensure that all federal employees,
encompassing active duty, reserve

military personnel, and civilian federal
staff, receive full pay and back pay

for any time worked or furloughed
during future government shutdowns.

This legislation directly targets
the uncertainty plaguing the

workforce and aims to prevent
future military families from facing

the threat of missed paychecks.

Senate Bill S.2296,

the National Defense Authorization Act
(NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026, continues to

advance through the legislative process.

The NDAA is the crucial annual
legislation that sets the policy and

budgetary framework for the entire
Department of Defense, including

personnel compensation, healthcare
benefits, and deployment authorities.

Its eventual passage is mandatory
for ensuring military readiness

and guaranteeing the scheduled pay
raises and benefit structures for

active duty and reserve personnel
in the upcoming fiscal year.

The necessity of passing a
fully funded NDAA (S.2296)

is underscored by global
security assessments.

Research confirmed during this
period that the Russian Ministry

of Defense is significantly scaling
up its missile procurement programs

despite Western sanctions targeting
its defense industrial base.

Procurement documents indicated orders for
hundreds of advanced cruise and ballistic

missiles, including 303 Iskander-K cruise
missiles and 450 Kalibr sea-launched

cruise missiles, scheduled for delivery
through two thousand twenty-seven.

This aggressive domestic production
capacity, coupled with the observed

use of weapons systems like the Lancet
loitering munition against Ukrainian

unmanned surface vehicles in the Black
Sea, necessitates sustained US military

modernization and robust funding to
maintain deterrence and global stability.

The continued provision of high-value
systems, such as the Patriot air

defense platform to allies like
Ukraine, remains a critical requirement

driven by this geopolitical reality.

Issues That Affect
Retired Military Personnel

The Two Thousand Twenty-Five
Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)

Military retirees are scheduled to receive
a statutory Cost of Living Adjustment

(COLA) for two thousand twenty-five,
designed to offset inflationary pressures.

This adjustment translates to an increase
of $25 for every $1,000 of military

retirement pension received each month.

This mandatory COLA is also extended
to survivors receiving payments

through the Survivor Benefit Plan
(SBP), ensuring their financial

stability is similarly protected.

An important detail for those recently
separating from service is the prorated

nature of the COLA for those who
retired in two thousand twenty-four.

Their adjustment in two thousand
twenty-five will be reduced based

on the specific calendar quarter
(January-March, April-June, etc.)

in which they retired, which
may also be modified based on

their entry date into service and
their selected retirement plan.

This annual COLA provides essential
financial certainty, acting as a

vital fiscal anchor against economic
instability for fixed-income retirees.

The legislative attempt to
stabilize federal operations, the

Shutdown Fairness Act (S.3012),

holds importance for
retired personnel as well.

Although the bill’s most
immediate impact addresses

active pay, the passage of S.3012

would inherently reinforce the security of
all federally administered annuities and

pensions, including military retired pay.

By legally mandating continuous and prompt
compensation during future appropriations

lapses, the bill acts as a protective
layer, mitigating the risk of bureaucratic

processing delays or interruptions to
benefit dispersion, thereby guaranteeing

the flow of established retirement income.

This legislative effort validates the
principle that earned benefits should

not be susceptible to political gridlock.

Navigating Healthcare
Transitions: TRICARE Changes

Service members transitioning out of
active duty and into military retirement

in two thousand twenty-five must undertake
comprehensive healthcare planning to

avoid substantial gaps in coverage.

Critical Loss of Benefits

The shift from active-duty status
to retiree status results in the

immediate termination of several
important TRICARE benefits.

Retirees must be prepared for the
loss of the Extended Care Health

Option (ECHO), a crucial resource for
family members with special needs.

The loss of this benefit can create
immediate financial and logistical stress

for families relying on specialized care.

Furthermore, routine hearing aids and
hearing aid services cease under standard

retiree TRICARE coverage, although
alternatives are available through the

Department of Veterans Affairs or the
Retiree-At-Cost Hearing Aid Program.

Similarly, access to chiropractic
care through military hospitals

or clinics ends upon retirement.

Routine eye exams are also discontinued
unless the retiree opts for TRICARE

Prime or proactively enrolls in
the Federal Employees Dental and

Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).

These necessary transitions emphasize
that military retirement, while

signifying a new chapter, demands careful
administrative preparation, including

keeping current information in the Defense
Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System

(DEERS) to ensure continuity of coverage
through available alternative programs.

Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs

The Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) was focused on executing historic

policy expansion and adopting new
technology, offering substantial

relief and modernization for disabled
veterans and their caregivers.

The two thousand twenty-five updates
to the Sergeant First Class Heath

Robinson Honoring our Promise
to Address Comprehensive Toxics

(PACT) Act represent a monumental
commitment to toxic-exposed veterans.

The most critical announcement involves
the addition of 23 new presumptive

conditions that automatically qualify
veterans for compensation benefits.

This comprehensive expansion addresses
a wide spectrum of severe illnesses,

including several cancers that were
previously difficult to link definitively

to service, various respiratory illnesses,
specific neurological conditions,

and certain autoimmune disorders.

This simultaneous addition of 23
conditions constitutes a fundamental

shift in the claims process.

Veterans who served in specific,
designated locations during certain

time periods are now legally presumed to
have been exposed to toxic substances,

thereby eliminating the immense burden
of proof that historically forced

veterans into "exhausting battles"
to establish service connection.

This lowered threshold means that
thousands of previously denied claims

can now be successfully reconsidered
and approved, finally translating

policy reform into tangible justice.

Financial Relief, Family Support,
and Implementation Timeline

The VA has outlined a clear schedule
for implementing these two thousand

twenty-five PACT Act expansions.

Crucially, the process for retroactive
payment processing is scheduled to

commence in July two thousand twenty-five.

This is intended to provide
compensation dating back to the

veteran’s original claim date for
those whose illnesses were previously

denied but are now deemed presumptive.

Furthermore, the two thousand
twenty-five updates recognize the

sacrifices of military families by
expanding benefits to include enhanced

caregiver support and new educational
benefits for dependents of veterans

who have service-connected conditions.

The VA is supporting this rapid
benefit expansion with significant

infrastructure commitments.

To manage the anticipated surge in
claims and healthcare needs, the VA

is committed to hiring over 2,000
new healthcare providers dedicated

specifically to PACT Act cases.

This demonstrates a systemic
dedication to increasing long-term

capacity, ensuring that the legal
expansion of eligibility translates

effectively into timely healthcare
access and compensation distribution.

The implementation timeline is phased
throughout the year: initial expansion

of presumptive conditions begins in
January two thousand twenty-five; new

application processing systems launch
in March two thousand twenty-five;

expanded eligibility requirements
are phased in between April and June

two thousand twenty-five; retroactive
payments begin in July two thousand

twenty-five; the complete deployment of
new healthcare provider teams is set for

September two thousand twenty-five; and
the final phase of benefit expansions

is scheduled to be fully implemented
by December two thousand twenty-five.

Technological Advancement in
Veteran Healthcare Delivery

The VA demonstrated its commitment
to modernizing healthcare delivery,

especially in underserved regions, with
the introduction of new mobile technology.

On October twenty-fourth, two
thousand twenty-five, the VA announced

the implementation of the Oracle
Health Community Care app, which

was formerly known as Mobile Care.

This application is designed specifically
to support Home-Based Primary Care

(HBPC) teams that serve veterans in
remote or rural areas where internet

connectivity is frequently unreliable.

The app provides HBPC staff with a
secure, read-only mobile capability that

allows them to access critical patient
information in an offline environment.

This vital data includes documentation,
current orders, medications,

labs, and comprehensive histories.

This technological enhancement
dramatically improves the

efficiency and consistency of care.

Previously, HBPC staff were forced to
rely on cumbersome workflows involving

logging into laptops, connecting to
hotspots, and accessing virtual private

networks (VPNs) to reach patient records.

Now, staff can open patient charts
directly at the point of care,

which saves significant time and
reduces clinical disruptions.

Furthermore, the app improves data
security by eliminating the need for

staff to print out sensitive patient
charts or take handwritten notes, reducing

the risk of data loss or mishandling.

By making health information visible
to veterans on the device during

visits, the app also supports stronger
engagement, helping veterans better

understand trends in their health and
the importance of their treatment plans.

Policy Oversight and
Defense of Entitlements

Congressional oversight of the VA remained
active during this period, focusing on

protecting veterans’ access to earned
benefits and maintaining policy integrity.

Ranking Member Takano publicly criticized
a media series that he argued unjustly

"scapegoated" veterans who were collecting
"long overdue" benefits, emphasizing that

the focus should remain on delivering
compensation to those who have earned it.

Furthermore, political scrutiny was
applied to administrative proposals

that were perceived as discriminatory.

Ranking Member Takano and other
Healthcare Practitioners from the

House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
(HVAC) publicly contested potential

moves by the Trump VA that might
discriminate against veterans based on

marital status or political viewpoints.

Such actions emphasize the ongoing
need for robust legislative defense

of the principles of equal access and
non-discrimination within the VA system.

The legislative and oversight process is
essential to ensuring that policy shifts

maintain data transparency and fairness
for all veterans and their families.

And that's your Weekly Briefing.

Staying on top of these changes
is key to navigating your career,

your retirement, and your benefits.

Thank you for tuning in.

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We’ll be back next week with another
roundup of the news that matters most

to the military and veteran community.