MIL News Weekly

Edward: Welcome to the MIL News
Weekly for 30 November to 6

December 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 operational tempo for the
Active Duty and Reserve components

has intensified significantly
during this reporting period.

The force is currently balancing a
complex, high-visibility domestic

security mission with the urgent
imperative to modernize combat

capabilities for peer-level conflict.

This duality—policing the homeland while
preparing for high-tech warfare abroad—is

placing unique stressors on personnel,
doctrine, and the defense industrial base.

The deployment of National Guard troops
to the National Capital Region, initiated

under the "crime emergency" declaration
of August 2025, has evolved into a

defining operational commitment for the
National Guard Bureau and the contributing

states, particularly West Virginia.

During the reporting period of November
30 to December 6, 2025, definitive

confirmation emerged regarding
the duration of the deployment.

While initial orders suggested
a conclusion in late November,

the mission has now been extended
through the end of February 2026.

This extension, driven by the Trump
administration's ongoing security

assessment of the District of
Columbia, effectively locks hundreds

of guardsmen into a winter deployment.

The West Virginia National Guard
(WVNG), which has contributed between

300 and 400 personnel to Joint
Task Force–District of Columbia, is

at the forefront of this mission.

The extension raises significant
administrative and legal questions

regarding the status of these troops.

While Governor Patrick Morrisey
has maintained the deployment under

his gubernatorial authority, the
funding and operational control

operate under a complex Title 32 and
state active duty hybrid framework.

The uncertainty regarding pay and
entitlements, which were previously

confirmed only through October 31, 2025,
has been a source of anxiety for deployed

service members and their families.

The "continuing resolution"
funding environment adds a layer of

fiscal fragility to the operation,
requiring constant inter-agency

maneuvering to ensure seamless
pay and allowance disbursement.

On December 6, 2025, the DoD formally
unveiled the details of the "Drone

Dominance Program" (DDP), a massive
initiative aimed at rapidly acquiring

over 300,000 "kamikaze" or loitering
munition drones by early 2028.

This $1 billion program is not
merely a procurement contract; it

is a structural attempt to break
the "cost curve" of modern warfare.

The program is divided into four phases,
with an immediate target of ordering

30,000 systems for delivery by July 2026.

This timeline is remarkably
compressed compared to traditional

defense acquisition cycles,
which often span decades.

The DDP is a direct implementation
of Secretary Hegseth’s July 2025

memorandum, "Unleashing U.S.

Military Drone Dominance," which
explicitly sought to bypass

bureaucratic inertia and "unleash
the combined potential of American

manufacturing and warfighter ingenuity".

Legislative and Fiscal Stability:
Appropriations and the NDAA

The following saw significant activity
during the reporting period regarding

the National Defense Authorization
Act (NDAA) and government funding.

H.R.

5371: Continuing
Appropriations and Federal Pay

To prevent a government lapse,
President Trump signed H.R.

5371, the "Continuing Appropriations...

and Extensions Act, 2026,"
into law on November 12, 2025.

The effects of this legislation remain the
governing fiscal reality for the reporting

period of November 30 – December 6.

The Act extends federal funding
through January 30, 2026.

Crucially for civilian employees
supporting the military, Section 116

of Division A provides retroactive
pay for any employees affected by

the brief lapse in appropriations
that began on October 1, 2025.

This provision ensures that the
civilian workforce—essential

for logistics, maintenance, and
administration—is made whole.

By extending funding into early 2026, the
Act allows the DoD to continue operations

without the immediate threat of a holiday
shutdown, providing a stable planning

horizon for the Guard mission in D.C.

and the initial contract awards
for the Drone Dominance Program.

FY2026 NDAA: The Final Stretch

Negotiations on the Fiscal Year 2026 NDAA
accelerated this week, with the House

and Senate Armed Services Committees
aiming to reconcile their bills.

The compromise bill is expected
to authorize a defense topline

approximately $8 billion higher
than the President's budget request.

This increase is intended to
offset the eroding effects of

inflation on purchasing power.

A critical provision in the House version
is a targeted 15% pay increase for

junior enlisted personnel (E-1 to E-4).

This $2.5

billion investment addresses the
acute financial distress faced by

the lowest-ranking service members,
many of whom struggle with food

insecurity and housing costs.

The SPEED Act: Incorporated into
the NDAA is the "Streamlining

Procurement for Effective Execution
and Delivery" (SPEED) Act.

This legislation raises the threshold
for requiring "truthful cost or

pricing data," a regulatory hurdle
that often deters commercial tech

companies from working with the DoD.

This legislative change is the
statutory companion to the Drone

Dominance Program, legally enabling
the rapid acquisition strategies

the Pentagon seeks to implement.

2026 Military Pay Raise

The economic outlook for
active duty personnel was

solidified during this period.

The 2026 military pay
raise is set at 3.8%,

effective January 1, 2026.

This figure is tied to the
Employment Cost Index (ECI) and has

passed both chambers of Congress
without significant opposition.

While lower than the 4.5%

raise in 2025, it continues the trend
of ensuring military compensation keeps

pace with private-sector wage growth.

Incident Report: USS
Gettysburg Friendly Fire

Transparency and accountability were
themes of the week as the Navy released

the results of an investigation
into a friendly fire incident

involving the USS Gettysburg (CG 64).

On December 22, 2024, the cruiser
engaged and destroyed a friendly

F/A-18F Super Hornet from Strike Fighter
Squadron (VFA) 11 in the Red Sea.

The investigation cited a breakdown
in "forceful backup" and a lack

of integrated training between the
cruiser and the carrier air wing.

This incident serves as a grim reminder
of the complexity of modern air defense.

As the Navy operates in congested
environments like the Red Sea, where

commercial drones, Houthi missiles, and
friendly aircraft share the same airspace,

the margin for error is nonexistent.

The Navy has pledged to use this as a
learning event to refine Identification

Friend or Foe (IFF) procedures.

Issues That Affect
Retired Military Personnel

For the retired community, the first
week of December 2025 brought finalized

economic data for the upcoming year and
a historic legislative correction for

the nation's most decorated veterans.

The Medal of Honor Act (H.R.

695): Restoring Dignity

The most significant legislative
victory for retirees this

week was the enactment of H.R.

695, the Medal of Honor Act,
signed into law by President

Trump on December 1, 2025.

Since 1916, Medal of Honor recipients
have received a special monthly pension.

Originally set at $10, it has
been adjusted sporadically

over the last century.

In 2025, the rate stood at
approximately $1,619 per month.

The new law recognizes that this
amount was insufficient to support

the recipients, many of whom dedicate
their post-service lives to unpaid

public diplomacy and inspiring the
next generation, often limiting their

ability to pursue standard careers.

The Medal of Honor Act implements
a massive, structural increase:

The monthly pension is
increased to $5,625.

This results in an annual
stipend of roughly $67,500.

Crucially, the law establishes a pension
for the surviving spouses of Medal

of Honor recipients, set at $1,406.73

per month.

Previously, the pension died with
the veteran, often leaving widows

in financial precariousness.

Both amounts are legally tied to annual
cost-of-living adjustments, ensuring

their value persists into the future.

This legislation goes beyond financial
support; it is a statement of national

values, ensuring that the bearers
of the nation's highest award live

with a baseline of financial dignity
commensurate with their sacrifice.

2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA)

With the start of the new year
approaching, the COLA rates for

2026 have been finalized, presenting
a mixed picture for different

categories of federal retirees.

Retirees under the traditional
military pension system and the

Civil Service Retirement System
(CSRS) will receive a 2.8%

COLA, effective as of December 1, 2025.

The increase will first appear in the
annuity checks issued in January 2026.

This rate is based on the Consumer
Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and

Clerical Workers (CPI-W) measurements
from the third quarter of 2025.

TRICARE Pharmacy Costs
and Health Plan Changes

Healthcare expenses remain a
primary driver of retiree budgets.

The Defense Health Agency (DHA) has
released the 2026 cost structures,

revealing targeted price hikes
designed to shift behavior.

The 2026 fee schedule continues
the DoD's long-term strategy of

incentivizing the use of Home
Delivery over retail pharmacies.

For a 90-day supply obtained through
Home Delivery, the copayment for generic

drugs will increase from $13 to $14.

Brand-name drugs will see a significant
rise from $38 to $44, and non-formulary

drugs will jump from $76 to $85.

In contrast, prices at Retail
Network Pharmacies for a 30-day

supply are also adjusting.

While generic drugs remain steady
at $16, brand-name drugs will

increase from $43 to $48, and
non-formulary drugs will rise to $85.

The price signal is clear.

A retiree pays $14 for a 90-day
supply of generics via mail,

compared to $48 ($16 x 3) for the
same supply at a retail pharmacy.

This differential is intended to
push the retiree population toward

the lower-overhead mail-order
system, reducing costs for the DHA.

Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs

The landscape of Veterans Affairs is
currently defined by a sharp legislative

conflict over how to fund expanded
benefits, alongside critical public

health updates and research breakthroughs
impacting the disabled veteran community.

The Conflict Over H.R.

6047: The Briley and Edmundson Act

The most contentious issue in the
veteran community this week is H.R.

6047, the Sharri Briley and Eric
Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act.

This legislation has triggered a
civil war among veteran service

organizations (VSOs), highlighting
the fiscal constraints of the

current political environment.

The bill aims to address two
long-standing gaps in the VA safety net:

Catastrophically Disabled Veterans:
It creates a new supplemental monthly

allowance for veterans with severe
service-connected disabilities

(such as quadriplegia, blindness,
or severe TBI) who are already

eligible for Aid and Attendance.

The proposal offers an additional
$10,000 annually to help cover the

extraordinary costs of home-based care.

It mandates a 1% annual increase
to Dependency and Indemnity

Compensation (DIC) for five years.

DIC rates have historically lagged
behind other federal survivor

benefits, and this provision seeks
to incrementally close that gap.

The Controversy: The "Pay-For"

To adhere to "PAYGO"
(Pay-As-You-Go) fiscal rules,

the bill must be budget-neutral.

The proposed revenue source is an
increase in the VA Home Loan Funding Fee.

The bill would reinstate the funding fee
for veterans with disability ratings of

70% or less when they use the home loan
benefit for a second or subsequent time.

Currently, all veterans with a compensable
service-connected disability (10% or

higher) are exempt from the funding fee.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) has
taken a hardline stance against the bill.

VFW Director Kristina Keenan testified,
"Through the 80-year history of the

program, disabled veterans have always
been exempted from the funding fee...

HR 6047 would break that
longstanding promise."

The core argument is philosophical:
one group of disabled veterans

should not be taxed to pay for
the benefits of another group.

Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA)
echoed this, stating, "A veteran

should never foot the bill for
another veteran's benefits".

Organizations representing the
most severely wounded, including

the Wounded Warrior Project
(WWP) and Paralyzed Veterans of

America (PVA), support the bill.

Their calculus is pragmatic: the
catastrophically disabled have waited

decades for relief, and the proposed
fee (averaging ~$35/month on a mortgage)

is a bearable cost for the broader
population of less-disabled veterans to

ensure the most vulnerable are protected.

Revenue Recovery: The GUARD Act (H.R.

4077)

While H.R.

6047 is controversial, H.R.

4077, the GUARD Veterans’
Health Care Act, represents a

consensus approach to VA funding.

Currently, when a veteran who has
both VA coverage and private Medicare

Advantage (MA) coverage receives care
at a VA facility, the VA is legally

prohibited from billing the MA plan.

This results in the VA subsidizing the
profits of private insurance companies.

H.R.

4077 authorizes the VHA to
recoup costs from MA plans for

non-service-connected care.

This could generate billions in revenue
for the VA without costing the veteran

a dime, as the bill prohibits plans from
passing these costs on to the enrollee.

The VFW and other groups strongly support
this measure as a common-sense fiscal fix.

Public Health: The SUPPORT Act (H.R.

2483)

On December 1, 2025, President
Trump signed the SUPPORT

for Patients and Communities
Reauthorization Act of 2025 (H.R.

2483).

The Act includes provisions that
impact health insurance markets,

potentially influencing Federal
Employees Health Benefits (FEHB)

plans by mandating coverage standards
for substance use disorder (SUD).

The Act reauthorizes critical
grant programs for opioid

prevention and recovery.

It establishes a "Federal
Interagency Work Group on Fentanyl

Contamination" to combat the overdose
crisis, which disproportionately

affects the veteran population.

Additionally, Section 108 mandates
enhanced cybersecurity for the National

Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988),
ensuring this vital lifeline remains

operational in the face of cyber threats.

Comparative Economic and Benefit Analysis

Federal & Military Economic
Adjustments The 2026 economic

landscape for federal personnel is set.

Active duty troops will see a 3.8%

pay increase effective January
1, 2026, keeping pace with

the Employment Cost Index.

Retirees are split by system: Military
and CSRS retirees will receive a 2.8%

COLA, appearing in January
checks, while FERS retirees are

statutorily capped at a 2.0%

increase due to the "diet COLA" provision.

Additionally, the new Medal of
Honor Act establishes a flat annual

pension of approximately $67,500
for recipients, a dramatic increase

from the previous ~$19,000 rate.

H.R.

6047 Benefit vs.

Cost Analysis The Sharri Briley
and Eric Edmundson Act proposes

a straightforward trade-off.

It offers a $10,000 annual benefit
for catastrophically disabled veterans

and a 1% annual increase for five
years for survivor benefits (DIC).

To fund this $7 billion expansion, the
bill reinstates the Home Loan Funding

Fee for veterans with disability
ratings between 0% and 70% on their

second or subsequent use of the loan.

This breaks the long-standing precedent
of fee exemptions for disabled veterans,

creating the central point of friction
between the VFW (opposed) and groups like

PVA and Wounded Warrior Project (support).

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.