MIL News Weekly

Edward: Welcome to the MIL News Weekly
for 23-29 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

Institutional Transformation: The
Return of the Department of War

The week of 23 November 2025 also served
as a major implementation phase for

Executive Order 14347, which formally
restored the Department of Defense's

historic moniker: the Department of War.

Symbolic and Doctrinal Shift

President Trump signed Executive
Order 14347 on 05 September 2025,

but the material changes accelerated
during this reporting period.

The Executive Order explicitly states
that the name "Department of War" is

chosen to "sharpen the Department's
focus on our own national interest"

and demonstrate a "willingness to
wage war" rather than merely defend.

This is not a semantic
change but a doctrinal one.

It signals a move away from the
"stabilization and reconstruction"

mindset that characterized the
post-9/11 era toward a focus on

lethality and decisive victory.

For active duty officers and senior
NCOs, this shift is manifesting

in revised training guidance that
prioritizes offensive operations and

high-intensity conflict capabilities.

During this week, physical changes to the
Pentagon became visible, with new bronze

signage bearing "United States Department
of War" installed at key entrances.

The digital transition also
advanced, with the primary web

domain shifting to war.gov.

Internal estimates reported during the
week suggest the total cost of this

rebranding could reach $2 billion.

This figure encompasses: Replacement
of signage at thousands of installations

globally, Updating digital infrastructure
and cybersecurity certificates for

the new domain, and reprinting of
official stationery, identification

cards, and doctrinal publications.

Critics argue these funds would be
better spent on readiness or personnel

welfare, while proponents view it as a
necessary investment in restoring the

martial culture of the armed forces.

Legislative Analysis: Bills
Affecting Active Duty Personnel

The legislative landscape this week
was characterized by maneuvering

around the appropriations deadline
to prevent a government shutdown.

H.R.

5371, the Continuing
Appropriations Act, 2026 passed

the House and Senate this week.

This bill is essential for preventing a
government shutdown by extending funding.

Its most critical impact for active
duty and reserve personnel is ensuring

that active duty pay and operational
funds continue without interruption.

The legislation explicitly prioritizes
"entitlements and other mandatory

payments," which effectively insulates
military pay from political gridlock.

H.R.

6326, the Accelerating Access to SCIFs
Act, was introduced on 28 November 2025.

This bill aims to speed up the
accreditation of Sensitive Compartmented

Information Facilities (SCIFs).

For intelligence officers and
units working with industry, this

addresses a significant bottleneck
in accessing classified workspaces,

potentially accelerating the
deployment of new technologies.

H.R.

6325 was also introduced on 28
November 2025 and referred to the

House Armed Services Committee.

While the full text is emerging,
it requires the Secretary of

Defense to report on the use
of other transaction authority.

Its introduction alongside SCIF
reform suggests a package of defense

industrial base reforms aimed at agility.

Analysis: The passage of H.R.

5371 was the most immediate concern.

Without it, the Department of War
would have faced a shutdown crisis

immediately following the holiday.

Meanwhile, H.R.

6326 reflects the department's frustration
with its own security bureaucracy,

attempting to legislate efficiency
where administrative policy has failed.

Issues That Affect
Retired Military Personnel

Referral and Authorization "Cliff"

Another critical detail highlighted this
week is the expiration of referrals.

Any referrals or pre-authorizations
issued by the outgoing contractor

(Health Net) that have expiration
dates after 30 September 2025 are

no longer valid under TriWest.

A retiree receiving ongoing care (e.g.,

physical therapy, chemotherapy) with
a Health Net referral must obtain

a new referral from their provider
that is processed by TriWest to

ensure coverage continues into 2026.

Ignoring this will result in
Point-of-Service charges, which

can be substantial (usually
50% of the billed amount).

TRICARE and FEDVIP Open Season

Concurrently, the annual Open Season
is in full swing, running from 10

November 2025 to 09 December 2025.

This is the sole window for retirees to
switch between TRICARE Prime (managed

care, lower out-of-pocket, restricted
network) and TRICARE Select (PPO style,

higher deductibles, freedom of choice).

Retirees must also manage their
dental and vision coverage through

the Federal Employees Dental and
Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).

Unlike medical, dental
coverage is not automatic.

The Open Season for FEDVIP closes
one day earlier, on 08 December 2025.

The Defense Health Agency released
the 2026 pharmacy copayment

schedule during this period.

Copayments for brand-name drugs
at retail pharmacies and via Home

Delivery will increase by $1 to $9.

Costs for generic drugs at network
pharmacies remain unchanged.

This pricing structure is designed to
aggressively steer retirees toward generic

equivalents and the Home Delivery system.

Financial Outlook: Pay and Taxes

The Defense Finance and Accounting
Service (DFAS) issued several

updates crucial for retiree financial
planning as the year concludes.

Retirees can plan for a 2.8%

Cost of Living Adjustment effectively
starting 01 December 2025.

This figure is derived from the
Consumer Price Index (CPI-W)

from the third quarter of 2025.

While lower than the inflationary
spikes of previous years, it represents

a stabilization of purchasing power.

The increase will first appear in the
check received on 31 December 2025.

December Pay Schedule Anomaly

Retirees must be aware of the pay
calendar quirk for December 2025 to

avoid liquidity issues in January.

November Entitlement will
be paid on 01 December 2025.

December Entitlement will
be paid on 31 December 2025.

January Entitlement will not
be paid until 01 February 2026

(or the closest business day).

Retirees will receive two payments in
the calendar month of December 2025

and zero payments in January 2026.

Budgeting for this 30+ day gap is
essential, particularly for those with

mortgages or rent due on 01 January.

Tax Statement Availability

The schedule for 2025 tax forms
(1099-R) was finalized with t h

e online (myPay) will be available
starting 17 December 2025.

Paper copies will not be mailed
until mid-to-late January 2026.

DFAS will not process requests for
lost 1099-Rs until 10 February 2026.

This policy underscores the
department's push to move all retirees

to the digital myPay platform.

Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)

The SBP continues to be a pillar
of security for military families.

The 2.8%

COLA also applies to SBP annuities.

However, annuitants (survivors) operate
on a slightly different pay schedule.

Their increased payment will
arrive on 02 January 2026 (the

first business day of the month).

Unlike TRICARE, there is no
annual "Open Season" for SBP.

Enrollment is generally a
one-time decision at retirement.

However, retirees in their 25th
to 36th month of retirement have

a statutory window to discontinue
coverage if they choose, though

this requires spousal concurrence.

Legislative Analysis:
Bills Affecting Retirees

H.R.

6321, the Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing
Act, was introduced on 28 November 2025.

This bill amends the Social Security
Act to mandate Medicare coverage

for lung cancer biomarker testing.

This legislation is vital for
retirees over 65 who are TRICARE

for Life and Medicare eligible,
particularly those who may have

had toxic exposures during service.

Early biomarker testing allows
for precision medicine treatments.

Analysis: H.R.

6321 represents a bridge between civilian
healthcare innovation and veteran needs.

Lung cancer remains a leading
cause of death for the Vietnam

and Gulf War generations.

By mandating Medicare coverage for
biomarker testing, this bill ensures that

retirees using TRICARE for Life can access
state-of-the-art diagnostic tools without

facing claim denials, aligning their care
with the latest oncological standards.

Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs

Operational Reform: The
CHAMPVA Breakthrough

The most significant positive development
for disabled veterans and their families

was the announcement on 24 November
2025 regarding the Civilian Health

and Medical Program of the Department
of Veterans Affairs (CHAMPVA).

CHAMPVA provides health coverage to the
spouses and children of veterans who

are permanently and totally disabled
due to a service-connected disability.

For years, the program was plagued
by a backlog exceeding 70,000

applications, with processing
times stretching over five months.

Secretary Collins announced
that the application backlog

has been reduced to zero.

New applications are now
processed within days.

This was achieved through a "surge"
strategy that combined mandatory

overtime for processors with the
deployment of a new automated optical

character recognition (OCR) system that
digitizes paper applications instantly.

For the families of disabled veterans,
this means immediate access to

healthcare coverage rather than
months of financial uncertainty.

The backlog of appeals was also
reduced from 20,000 to under 1,000.

Workforce Restructuring:
Union Contract Termination

In a move that has sparked outrage
among labor organizations, the VA

formally terminated its collective
bargaining agreements (CBAs) with the

unions representing its workforce.

Effective immediately during this
reporting week, the VA voided contracts

with the American Federation of
Government Employees (AFGE), National

Nurses United (NNU), and others,
affecting over 350,000 employees.

The administration invoked Executive
Order 14251, which reclassifies the

VA as a national security agency.

This designation allows the Secretary to
exempt the agency from the Federal Service

Labor-Management Relations Statute.

Rationale: Secretary Collins
argued that the existing union

contracts protected underperforming
employees and created bureaucratic

hurdles that delayed veteran care.

The move is framed as "redirecting
millions in wasteful union

spending back to Veterans".

AFGE President Everett Kelley condemned
the action as "illegal retaliation"

for the union's opposition to proposed
facility closures and staffing cuts

(the "AIR Commission" recommendations).

The unions warn that stripping
protections will silence whistleblowers

who report patient safety issues,
ultimately harming veterans.

Elimination of DEI Offices

Concurrently, the VA announced the
dismantling of its Diversity, Equity, and

Inclusion (DEI) infrastructure, cancelling
$14 million in associated spending.

The administration asserts that these
offices fostered division and that the VA

will return to a "colorblind" meritocracy
focused solely on clinical outcomes.

Legislative Analysis:
Bills Affecting Veterans

Several bills advanced this
week that address specific gaps

in veteran care and benefits.

S.

423, the PRO Veterans Act of
2025, passed the Senate in April

and is pending House action.

This bill focuses on retaining
top-tier medical talent at the VA by

authorizing "critical skill incentives"
(bonuses) for senior clinicians.

It includes strict oversight
to ensure these funds go to

providers, not administrators.

H.R.

1458 saw a CBO estimate
released this week.

The bill modifies GI Bill contributions
and independent study rules.

The CBO estimates this will increase
long-term direct spending but improve

access to education for veterans
pursuing non-traditional degrees.

The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson
Veterans Benefits Expansion Act was

championed by the Military Order
of the Purple Heart this week.

It seeks to expand benefits for
the caregivers of catastrophically

injured veterans, addressing gaps in
the current Caregiver Support Program

for families providing 24/7 care.

H.R.

6321, the Lung Cancer Biomarker Testing
Act, was introduced on 28 November 2025.

While primarily a Medicare bill, it
directly impacts elderly veterans.

It mandates coverage for biomarker
testing, crucial for veterans

with service-connected respiratory
cancers who rely on dual-eligibility

(VA/Medicare) for care.

Analysis: S.

423 is a critical piece of the puzzle
for the VA's workforce strategy.

As the agency sheds union contracts, it is
simultaneously seeking statutory authority

to pay higher bonuses to retain doctors,
attempting to shift from a tenure-based

model to a performance-based one.

Meanwhile, the Sharri Briley and
Eric Edmundson Act highlights the

continued struggle of caregivers
who often fall through the cracks of

the VA's complex eligibility rules.

The Military Order of the Purple
Heart's strong endorsement this week

signals a push to get this passed before
the end of the legislative session.

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.