MIL News Weekly

Edward: Welcome to the MIL News
Weekly for 26 October to 1 November

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 acute crisis of the
week centered on the financial

stability of the uniformed services.

Despite being classified as "excepted"
employees who must report for duty,

active duty and reserve personnel
faced the prospect of working

without pay as internal defense
funds were quickly exhausted.

The Imminent Pay Crisis
and Stop-Gap Measures

On Sunday, October 26, Treasury
Secretary Scott Bessent issued a

critical warning that active duty
troops would begin missing paychecks

by November 15, 2025, if the ongoing
government shutdown was not resolved.

Initial military paychecks disbursed
earlier in the month were covered only

through desperate stop-gap measures.

These measures included the
reallocation of unused Pentagon

research and development funds,
authorized by the administration,

and the acceptance of a $130 million
donation from a private donor.

Pentagon officials noted that these
stop-gap funds covered only one prior

pay cycle, confirming that the resources
intended to insulate the force from

the political dysfunction were rapidly
depleting, setting a definitive

deadline for congressional action.

The financial strain on military
families was already profound

before the November 15 deadline.

Reports indicated that military
families were already seeking external

assistance from food banks and various
support groups to help manage bills,

a direct consequence of the uncertain
funding situation and delayed payment

deposits earlier in the month.

The timing of the financial disruption
coincided with the peak season for

Permanent Change of Station (PCS)
moves, which affect approximately

400,000 military households annually.

Military spouses cited the added
expense of moving, combined with the

instability of paychecks, as contributing
to late fees, debt accumulation, and

significant administrative difficulty.

The necessity for high-profile
private donations and the legislative

scrambling for narrow, standalone
pay bills demonstrates a systemic

failure in guaranteeing reliable
support for the current force.

When military personnel—who are
fulfilling their essential duties—are

subject to imminent financial stoppage
caused by congressional gridlock, this

burden directly impacts morale and
mission readiness, threatening the

long-term retention of experienced
personnel in critical roles.

Legislative Efforts to
Guarantee Military Pay

In an effort to mitigate the impending
financial crisis, congressional

leaders advanced specific legislation
aimed at guaranteeing compensation

for uniformed personnel and
their immediate support staff.

H.R.

5401, the Pay Our Troops Act of
2026, was introduced to provide

continuing appropriations specifically
for the compensation of the

Armed Forces, including reserve
components performing active service.

Crucially, this legislation also extends
funding to cover the pay of civilian

personnel and contractors working for
the Department of Defense (DoD) and

the Department of Homeland Security
(DHS), which includes the Coast Guard,

provided they are offering direct
support to active service members.

If passed, the bill guarantees
funding until full appropriations

legislation is enacted or until
January 1, 2027, whichever comes first.

A similar, earlier measure, S.

876, the Pay Our Military Act of 2025,
provided continuing appropriations for

FY2025 under the same terms, but was set
to expire earlier, on January 1, 2026.

Neither bill contains provisions
that directly affect the

benefits or compensation
structures for military retirees.

The push for these specific military
pay guarantees occurred amidst

a broader legislative standoff.

Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of
Louisiana, planned to bring a stopgap

spending bill (a Continuing Resolution)
to the House floor to fund the

government through November 21, 2025.

However, Senate Minority Leader Chuck
Schumer, Democrat of New York, and other

Democrats voiced opposition, conditioned
on the inclusion of an extension

of Affordable Care Act tax breaks.

The inability of Congress to pass
a comprehensive funding measure by

consensus forces these narrow, piecemeal
funding bills that leave the majority

of federal operations, and many
military support functions, in jeopardy.

Installation and Operational Adjustments

The reliance on these temporary
funding measures and the forced

furlough of non-excepted employees
severely constrained daily

operations on military installations.

Guidance issued by the DoD
indicated an expectation to furlough

approximately half of the agency’s
741,477 civilian employees, leading

to substantial service cuts.

Operational impacts varied widely
by installation but included

significant disruptions to
family and community services.

At Fort Riley, Kansas, the general
Army Community Services office, the

outreach/mobilization office, and
the Soldier and Family Assistance

Center were all forced to close.

Child care services saw mixed results:
Fort Riley managed to keep five Child

Development Centers (CDCs) operational,
but the Whitside North CDC, which

offers hourly care, was closed.

Conversely, Kadena Air Base in
Japan reported that its child

and youth programs remained open.

The shutdown also impacted
essential administrative functions,

particularly those related to the
high volume of annual troop movements.

Government housing offices reported
having a "diminished" ability to

provide oversight and advocacy for
military personnel during inspections

of privatized housing, affecting
crucial move-in and move-out procedures.

This diminished capacity, combined
with the financial stress of the

PCS process, created a cycle of
difficulty for moving families.

A separate, pressing concern
involved military commissaries.

Defense Department officials granted
an exception allowing all military

commissaries to remain operational
by drawing upon cash reserves held

in the Defense Working Capital Fund.

However, this is not a permanent solution.

Officials warned that if these cash
reserves were exhausted—a projection

pointed toward December 5, 2025—the
agency would be compelled to close

168 stateside commissaries, retaining
only those in overseas and remote U.S.

locations.

In other significant operational
news, the week included the official

designation of October 26, 2025,
as the "Day of the Deployed,"

supported by House Resolution 828.

The resolution recognizes the
profound service of military members

deployed since September 11, 2001,
and specifically acknowledges the

"tremendous sacrifices" of their families.

Meanwhile, the use of federal forces for
domestic actions continued to expand.

In October 2025, President Trump
authorized the deployment of

federal troops, primarily National
Guard members, in Chicago.

These actions, framed by the
administration as addressing crime

and illegal immigration, are part of a
broader expansion of military domestic

roles that have been heavily scrutinized
by critics who cite potential abuses

of power and violations of the Posse
Comitatus Act, which limits military

involvement in domestic law enforcement.

Issues That Affect
Retired Military Personnel

For military retirees, the narrative was
one of stability and guaranteed benefits,

starkly contrasting with the immediate
funding crises facing active-duty members.

The most significant financial
news of the week cemented benefit

reliability for the coming year.

Guaranteed Retirement Benefits
and Cost-of-Living Adjustment

A critical distinction during the
government shutdown is that military

and federal retirement benefits
operate on mandatory funding and

thus continue without interruption.

Retired military personnel continued
to receive their retirement payments

throughout the shutdown period.

However, it was acknowledged that the
processing of new retirement applications

or requests for changes could be
delayed due to reduced agency staffing.

The financial stability of retirees was
further secured by the announcement of

the 2026 Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA).

On October 24, 2025, the Social Security
Administration (SSA) announced that

the COLA for 2026 would be set at 2.8

percent.

This announcement, which had been delayed
by nine days due to the shutdown, is

crucial because the COLA rate applies
automatically to military retired pay,

as well as to veterans’ disability
compensation and Dependency and

Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits.

The 2.8

percent adjustment, calculated based
on the Consumer Price Index to ensure

benefits keep pace with inflation, will
take effect starting in January 2026.

This adjustment will result in
tangible increases for retirees.

For instance, a military retiree
receiving a monthly retired pay of

$2,500 will see their benefit increase
by approximately $70 per month.

This 2026 rate of 2.8

percent is slightly higher
than the 2025 COLA of 2.5

percent.

The certainty afforded by the COLA
announcement—a long-term measure

of financial security guaranteed by
mandatory funding structures—stands

in sharp relief against the short-term
crisis facing active-duty families.

This stability-crisis paradox means
that political dysfunction that

directly harms current troops fails
to impact the financial security

of those who have already retired.

TRICARE Open Season and Program Updates

Beneficiaries were advised to prepare
for the annual TRICARE Open Season,

the period during which they can enroll
in or make changes to their health

coverage for the following calendar year.

TRICARE Open Season 2025 was scheduled
to commence on Monday, November 10, 2025,

and conclude on Tuesday, December 9, 2025.

All coverage adjustments made
during this time will become

effective on January 1, 2026.

Defense Health Agency (DHA) officials
advised beneficiaries to use the online

TRICARE Plan Finder and Compare Plans Tool
to evaluate their options, particularly

differentiating between structured
options like TRICARE Prime and more

flexible plans such as TRICARE Select.

Notably, 2026 cost figures for
out-of-pocket expenses and premiums,

including those for premium-based plans
such as TRICARE Reserve Select and

TRICARE Retired Reserve, will be posted
online prior to the start of Open Season.

These costs are directly impacted
by the recently announced COLA.

Specific policy changes were also noted
for TRICARE Young Adult (TYA) coverage.

Effective October 1, 2025, surviving
young adult dependents of deceased

Selected Reserve (SelRes) members
became eligible to purchase TYA coverage

using survivor (retiree) cost-shares,
extending up to three years after

the service member’s death or until
the dependent reaches the age of 26,

provided the service member’s death
occurred on or after October 1, 2025.

Legislative Debate on Retroactive
Pay for Federal Civilian Employees

The financial fate of the furloughed
federal civilian workforce, a group

that includes future retirees and
essential civilian support staff

for the DoD and VA, was a key
legislative debate during this period.

The central conflict revolved around
the interpretation of the Government

Employee Fair Treatment Act (GEFTA).

Draft memoranda originating from the
Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB)

General Counsel, intended for Director
Russell Vought, asserted that GEFTA does

not automatically guarantee retroactive
pay to furloughed federal employees.

This perspective argues that Congress
must include express language specifically

appropriating funds for back pay
within the legislation that ends

the current lapse in appropriations,
or such payments cannot be made.

This position significantly raised the
political stakes for civilian employees

waiting for the shutdown resolution.

In the Senate, three competing
bills were debated, addressing

compensation during the ongoing crisis

: S.

3012, the Shutdown Fairness Act: Proposed
by Senator Ron Johnson, Republican

of Wisconsin, this bill sought to pay
only those federal employees deemed

"excepted" (those who are working
without pay) during the shutdown.

S.

3039, the True Shutdown Fairness
Act: Introduced by Senator Chris Van

Hollen, Democrat of Maryland, this
bill was more expansive, proposing

to include payment to furloughed
federal employees and contractors.

It also included a provision
restricting reductions-in-force (RIFs)

initiated in response to the shutdown.

S.

3043, the Military and Federal Employee
Protection Act: Proposed by Senator

Gary Peters, Democrat of Michigan,
this bill sought to provide payment

for work already performed by both
excepted and furloughed employees.

Organizations like the National Active
and Retired Federal Employees Association

(NARFE) voiced strong support for measures
covering all employees, favoring S.

3039 and S.

3043 because they specifically
address furloughed staff.

The argument supporting the retroactive
pay for furloughed staff transcends

simple fairness; it is seen as a necessary
measure for long-term talent retention.

The recurring financial uncertainty
caused by periodic political dysfunction

creates a risk that employees critical
to agency missions—including those

who process future retirement claims
and provide support services—will

depart federal service, ultimately
damaging the quality and efficiency of

services provided to future retirees.

Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs

Despite the nationwide government
shutdown, the Department of Veterans

Affairs (VA) demonstrated strong
resilience, largely maintaining critical

services and continuing the aggressive
implementation of the PACT Act.

Continuity of Benefits and Services

The structure of VA funding
allowed the agency to continue the

vast majority of its operations.

An estimated 97 percent of VA employees
remained working during the shutdown

to provide essential services.

Core services that remained fully
operational included VA medical

centers, outpatient clinics, and Vet
Centers, which continued to operate

with unaffected working hours.

Furthermore, essential
benefits—compensation, pension, education,

and housing benefits—continued to
be processed and delivered, ensuring

the financial lifeline for veterans
and their families remained intact.

For disabled veterans, benefit
payments for November were

confirmed to be proceeding normally.

Since the usual payment date of
November 30, 2025, falls on a weekend,

the November disability compensation
payments were scheduled to be

deposited on Monday, December 1, 2025.

These payments will reflect the
2026 COLA adjustment starting

in the January 2026 payments.

However, some non-essential
services were temporarily

curtailed due to the funding lapse.

Noteworthy services that ceased included
VA benefits regional offices being

closed, transition program assistance
and career counseling being temporarily

halted, and all grounds maintenance
and placement of permanent headstones

at VA cemeteries being suspended.

Despite the regional office closures,
veterans were assured that Veterans

of Foreign Wars (VFW) Accredited
Service Officers retained the ability

to assist veterans with claims
remotely via internet connection.

The PACT Act: High Volume
Claims and Transparency

The implementation of the PACT
Act, which expands health care and

benefits for veterans exposed to burn
pits, Agent Orange, and other toxic

substances, continued at a record pace.

This legislative change has driven
an unprecedented surge in claims.

The Veterans Benefits Administration
(VBA) is on pace to process 2.5

million disability claims by the end
of 2025, which exceeds the agency's

2024 output by half a million.

To manage the historic claims volume
and reduce a persistent backlog of

approximately 200,000 applications,
the VA reinstated mandatory overtime

for its VBA employees in May 2025.

Specifically, Veterans Service
Representatives (VSRs) and Rating

Veterans Service Representatives
(RVSRs) are required to log 25 hours

of mandatory overtime each month.

A notable administrative change
concerning PACT Act transparency

was announced in October 2025.

The VA reported that, starting with
Fiscal Year 2026, it would move

the publication of the PACT Act
Performance Dashboard from a monthly

to a quarterly publication schedule.

The first quarterly report, covering
October through December 2025, is

scheduled for release in January 2026.

This shift in reporting frequency,
occurring precisely when the VA is

under maximum stress handling a historic
claims volume through mandatory overtime,

raises questions about public oversight.

While the VA cites a commitment to
transparency, reducing the frequency

of public reporting may make it more
difficult for stakeholders to track

real-time progress on claims backlogs
and processing capacity during

this critical implementation phase.

Debate on Claims System Reform

The record-breaking volume of claims
driven by the PACT Act has brought the

disability compensation system under
intense public and legislative scrutiny.

On October 29, 2025, the U.S.

Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
convened a hearing titled "Putting

Veterans First: Is the Current VA
Disability System Keeping Its Promise?".

The American Legion submitted a
Statement for the Record (SFR)

to the committee, advocating for
necessary reforms and defending the

integrity of the claims process.

Veterans Claims Disability Specialist
Marty Callaghan submitted the SFR,

utilizing the forum to strongly criticize
external reports that characterized

the rise in disability benefits as a
“bonanza” and disparaged legitimate

claims for common disabilities such
as tinnitus, migraines, and trauma.

The statement argued that such criticisms
erroneously reduced claims for legitimate

service-related illnesses and injuries.

The American Legion countered that
the increase in claims volume and

expenditure is not evidence of veterans
exploiting the system, but rather a

direct result of Congress intentionally
requiring the VA to enhance outreach

and increase online resources.

The contemporary veteran population
simply possesses far more information

regarding their earned benefits
than at any point in the nation's

history, leading to a legitimate
and expected increase in claims.

This strong defense of the claims
system integrity is vital, as it

serves to protect the benefits system
from potential future legislative or

administrative attempts to restrict
access to conditions newly granted

presumptive status under the PACT Act.

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

to the military and veteran community.