MIL News Weekly

Edward: Welcome to the MIL News Weekly
for 7-13 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 National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2026

On Wednesday, 10 December 2025, the U.S.

House of Representatives passed
the conference version of the

National Defense Authorization
Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026.

This legislation, which serves as
the primary policy vehicle for the

defense establishment, was approved
by a bipartisan vote of 312 to 112.

The bill, utilizing H.R.

3838 as its legislative vehicle,
authorizes a topline spending figure

of nearly $900 billion, reflecting
the growing fiscal demands of

great power competition and the
modernization of the nuclear triad.

Economic Provisions:
Compensation and Allowances

At the forefront of the NDAA’s
provisions for active personnel

is a mandate to stabilize the
economic footing of the force.

The bill authorizes a 3.8

percent across-the-board pay
raise for all active-duty troops

and reserve component members.

This increase, crafted to combat
inflationary pressures that have eroded

the purchasing power of military families,
represents a significant investment in

the human capital of the armed services.

For junior enlisted personnel, who
have disproportionately felt the

impact of rising consumer prices,
this adjustment is intended to

provide immediate financial relief.

Beyond base pay, the legislation
addresses the long-standing

opacity of housing compensation.

The bill includes strict provisions
requiring the Department of

Defense to increase transparency
regarding the calculation of the

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH).

Lawmakers have argued that the
current "black box" methodology

often results in rates that lag
behind the rapid appreciation of

rental markets in high-cost areas.

By forcing the Pentagon to disclose
the specific data points—such as local

utility costs and rental sampling
methods—used to determine these rates,

Congress aims to ensure that the allowance
functions as a true market-based subsidy

rather than an arbitrary stipend.

Furthermore, the NDAA acknowledges
the strain of deployment on

military families by raising the
Family Separation Allowance (FSA).

The monthly payment, provided to
service members who are deployed away

from their families for more than 30
days, will increase from $250 to $300.

This is the first statutory increase
to the FSA in years, a recognition of

the emotional and logistical burdens
borne by spouses and children during

extended operational rotations.

In a move to address the often-overlooked
costs of military relocation, the

conference report adopts House provisions
mandating a comprehensive study on

unreimbursed expenses incurred during
Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves.

Military families frequently face
out-of-pocket costs for lease

terminations, utility deposits,
and spousal relicensing fees

that are not fully covered by
existing travel allowances.

This study serves as a precursor to
potential future legislation that

could expand reimbursement authorities,
particularly for the relocation of pets,

which remains a significant financial
stressor for transferring families.

Strategic and Operational Policy Shifts

The FY 2026 NDAA is not merely a budgetary
document; it is a strategic directive that

reshapes the global posture of the U.S.

military.

The "Golden Dome" Missile Defense
Initiative: The legislation authorizes

the commencement of the "Golden Dome"
project, a comprehensive national

missile defense architecture designed
to shield the homeland from advanced

ballistic and hypersonic threats.

This initiative represents a paradigm
shift from limited ballistic missile

defense to a more robust, multi-layered
shield, necessitating significant

investments in next-generation radar
systems, interceptor batteries,

and command-and-control networks.

In a historic reassertion of congressional
war powers, the bill repeals the

1991 and 2002 Authorizations for
Use of Military Force against Iraq.

These authorizations, originally
passed to sanction the Gulf War and

the invasion of Iraq, have remained
on the books for decades, providing

a legal basis for various military
operations across the Middle East.

Their repeal signals the formal
legislative end of the post-9/11

era’s expansive war footing in Iraq
and forces future administrations to

seek specific congressional approval
for new major combat operations.

The NDAA includes rigorous constraints on
the executive branch’s ability to withdraw

forces from key strategic theaters.

The bill prohibits the reduction of
active-duty troops in Europe below a

baseline of 76,000 personnel and in
South Korea below 28,500 personnel.

To bypass these floors, the Secretary
of Defense would be required to certify

to Congress that such withdrawals
are in the national security interest

of the United States and have been
executed following consultation

with NATO and Indo-Pacific allies.

This provision reflects bipartisan
concern over the stability of

traditional alliances and seeks to
prevent precipitous troop drawdowns.

Responding to heightened concerns
regarding the politicization of the

armed forces, the bill introduces new
transparency requirements for military

support to civilian law enforcement.

It mandates that any military
personnel deployed to support domestic

immigration enforcement or crowd
control must clearly display their name

and service branch on their uniform.

Additionally, the DoD is required to
submit a report to Congress whenever

military assets—such as surveillance
aircraft or engineering units—are

utilized for domestic law enforcement
purposes, ensuring legislative

oversight of operations that blur the
lines between defense and policing.

Controversial Exclusions and Cuts

Despite its bipartisan passage, the
NDAA was the subject of fierce debate,

resulting in the exclusion of key social
policy provisions and the inclusion

of mandated cuts to specific programs.

One of the most contentious outcomes
of the conference process was the

removal of a provision that would
have expanded TRICARE coverage for

in vitro fertilization (IVF) to
all active-duty service members.

Currently, military health insurance
only covers fertility treatments if the

service member’s infertility is directly
linked to a "serious or severe illness or

injury" sustained while on active duty.

Advocates and military family
organizations had lobbied for a broad

expansion to align military benefits
with those available to federal

civilians and to aid retention.

However, opposition from conservative
lawmakers, citing moral objections

regarding the disposal of embryos,
led to the provision’s removal.

This decision leaves many military
families facing tens of thousands

of dollars in out-of-pocket costs to
build their families, a disparity that

critics argue undermines the military’s
promise to care for its troops.

Reflecting a shift in ideological
priorities, the NDAA mandates the

permanent repeal of all Diversity,
Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices and

programs within the Department of Defense.

The bill eliminates the position
of Chief Diversity Officer and cuts

approximately $40 million in funding
previously allocated to these initiatives.

Furthermore, the legislation
reduces spending on climate change

resilience and mitigation by $1.6

billion.

This reduction occurs despite Pentagon
assessments identifying climate change

as a "threat multiplier" capable of
destabilizing fragile regions and

threatening the physical integrity
of coastal military installations.

2026 Basic Allowance
for Housing (BAH) Rates

On 11 December 2025, the Department
of Defense released the Basic

Allowance for Housing (BAH)
rates for the 2026 calendar year.

These rates, which take effect
on 1 January 2026, are critical

for the financial planning of
the approximately one million

service members who live off-base.

The 2026 rates reflect an average
nationwide increase of 4.2

percent.

While this increase is intended to
offset the rising cost of rental

housing, it is notably lower than the 5.4

percent average increase seen in 2025.

The total estimated payout for the program
in 2026 is projected to reach $29.9

billion.

It is essential to understand that the 4.2

percent figure is an aggregate
average; actual changes vary

dramatically based on location,
pay grade, and dependency status.

The DoD determines these rates
by collecting rental data for six

distinct housing profiles—ranging
from one-bedroom apartments to

single-family detached homes—across
299 Military Housing Areas (MHAs).

This data is cross-referenced with
utility costs for electricity,

heat, and water/sewer to
generate the final allowance.

The BAH program is designed to cover
95 percent of housing costs, with

the remaining 5 percent intended to
be covered by the service member.

For 2026, this out-of-pocket
cost share is estimated to range

between $93 and $212 per month.

Importantly, the DoD reaffirmed the
policy of "Individual Rate Protection."

This mechanism ensures that if the BAH
rate for a specific location falls,

service members already stationed there
will effectively be "grandfathered"

in at their current, higher rate.

The new, lower rate would only
apply to members reporting to that

duty station on or after 1 January
2026, protecting current residents

from sudden financial shocks.

Border Security: The Establishment
of National Defense Areas

The week also witnessed a significant
escalation in the use of military

authority at the U.S.-Mexico

border.

On 10 December 2025, the Department
of the Interior (DOI) announced the

transfer of administrative jurisdiction
of approximately 760 acres of public

land in San Diego and Imperial
counties to the Department of the Navy.

This transfer establishes a
National Defense Area (NDA)

for a period of three years.

The designated zone stretches from
the western boundary of the Otay

Mountain Wilderness Area to a point
approximately one mile west of

the California-Arizona state line.

The administration cited the
region as a high-traffic corridor

for unlawful crossings and stated
that the transfer was necessary

to support ongoing border security
operations and prevent environmental

degradation caused by illegal traffic.

The designation of this land as an
NDA fundamentally alters the legal

framework for the troops deployed there.

Unlike standard support operations
where the military assists

civilian law enforcement (CBP),
an NDA places the territory under

direct military jurisdiction.

This empowers service members
to enforce security measures and

apprehend individuals accused of
trespassing on military property.

Legal experts suggest this designation
allows the administration to utilize

military personnel for direct
enforcement roles that might otherwise

be restricted under the Posse Comitatus
Act, effectively militarizing the

legal status of the border zone itself.

Legal Jeopardy in Maritime Operations

A growing undercurrent of
anxiety regarding the legality

of kinetic operations in the
Caribbean surfaced this week.

Reports published on 13
December 2025 indicate that U.S.

service members are increasingly fearful
of personal legal liability related

to a campaign of airstrikes against
suspected drug smuggling vessels.

Since September 2025, U.S.

forces have conducted strikes to
destroy these vessels, with the

administration justifying the actions
under Article II self-defense powers.

However, the lack of a formal declaration
of hostilities and the classification

of these targets as civilian vessels
have led some legal scholars to

characterize the strikes as extrajudicial.

This ambiguity has prompted service
members, including drone pilots

and staff officers involved in the
kill chain, to seek outside legal

counsel from organizations such as
Quaker House and The Orders Project.

These troops expressed deep moral and
legal reservations, fearing that their

participation could expose them to future
prosecution for violations of the laws

of war or international maritime law.

Legislative Update: Applicable Bills

In addition to the NDAA, the House
of Representatives passed several

other bills this week that impact the
operational environment of the military:

H.R.

3838 (NDAA FY2026): The primary
defense authorization vehicle

passed on 10 December 2025.

H.R.

1676 (Make SWAPs Efficient Act): Passed on
9 December 2025, this bill mandates faster

approval for State Wildlife Action Plans.

This is relevant to military installation
commanders who manage vast tracts of

natural resources and must coordinate
conservation efforts with state agencies

to maintain training range access.

H.R.

3857 (Snow Water Supply Forecasting
Reauthorization Act): Passed on 10

December 2025, this legislation improves
watershed management technologies.

It is critical for the
Army Corps of Engineers and

installations in the western U.S.

facing water scarcity challenges.

Issues That Affect
Retired Military Personnel

TRICARE 2026: Costs, Fees, and Enrollment

With the TRICARE Open Season concluding
on 9 December 2025, the Defense Health

Agency (DHA) formalized the cost and
fee structures for calendar year 2026.

These changes will impact all
retirees, their families, and

survivors effective 1 January 2026.

The new rates underscore the widening
cost disparity between beneficiaries

based on their sponsor's enlistment date.

Retirees are categorized into two groups:
Group A (sponsors who enlisted before 1

January 2018) and Group B (sponsors who
enlisted on or after 1 January 2018).

For Group A retirees, the
annual enrollment fee for

TRICARE Prime is set at $381.96

for an individual and $765.00

for a family.

For Group B retirees, the fees
are noticeably higher, reflecting

the legislative intent to shift
more costs to newer entrants.

The 2026 fee is $462.96

for an individual and $927.00

for a family.

While Group A retirees generally
do not pay an enrollment fee for

TRICARE Select, they are subject
to deductibles and cost-shares.

Group A Select: The inpatient admission
cost share is $250 per day for network

hospitals, capped at 25 percent of the
total hospital charge, plus 20 percent of

separately billed professional services.

Group B Select: These beneficiaries
pay an enrollment fee (unlike Group

A) and face different cost structures.

For 2026, the inpatient
admission cost is a flat $231 per

admission for network facilities.

Premium-Based Plans: For "gray area"
retirees (National Guard and Reserve

members who have retired but are not
yet age 60), TRICARE Retired Reserve

(TRR) remains the primary option.

Because this plan is unsubsidized,
the premiums are significant.

For 2026, the monthly
premium for TRR is $645.90

for member-only coverage and $1,548.30

for member and family coverage.

Retirees supporting adult children up to
age 26 through TRICARE Young Adult (TYA)

will see monthly premiums of $794.00

for TYA Prime and $363.00

for TYA Select.

Retirement Pay and Administrative Updates

Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) Direct
Remittance: A critical administrative

change was highlighted this week
regarding the payment of Survivor

Benefit Plan (SBP) premiums.

For retirees who pay these premiums
directly (rather than having them deducted

from retired pay), the Defense Finance
and Accounting Service (DFAS) announced

a shift in the collection process.

Beginning in August 2025, DFAS will
assume direct billing responsibility, and

payments must be made through Pay.gov.

This replaces the legacy
system managed by the U.S.

Treasury's Centralized
Receivables Service (CRS).

Retirees utilizing direct remittance must
update their payment methods to ensure

continuous coverage for their survivors.

USID Card Transition: Retirees
are reminded that the deadline

to replace older, paper-based
Uniformed Services Identification

(USID) cards is rapidly approaching.

All retirees must transition to the "Next
Generation USID" card by 31 December 2025.

The older cards, often held by
retirees for decades with "indefinite"

expiration dates, will no longer be
accepted at base access control points

or medical facilities after this date.

State Tax Legislation: In a positive
trend for retiree financial health,

several states advanced legislation
this week to exempt military

retirement pay from state income taxes.

Arizona: The "Service Members Tax
Relief Act" and "Tax Cuts for Veterans

Act" were introduced by Congressman
Abe Hamadeh and Senator Pete Ricketts.

These bills aim to amend the tax
code to exempt all service-related

retirement payments from income tax.

California: While passed earlier,
news circulated this week

regarding the implementation of
California’s new tax exemption.

Effective for the 2025 tax year, the state
will exempt the first $20,000 of uniformed

service retirement pay from state taxes.

This provision applies to retirees with
a federal adjusted gross income of up to

$125,000 (individual) or $250,000 (joint).

Legislative Update: Applicable Bills

S.

2296 (NDAA FY2026): The Senate's
legislative vehicle for the defense bill.

While primarily focused on active
duty authorizations, the pay raise

formulas within establish the
"High-3" averages for future retirees.

S.

1108: A bill introduced to amend
the Internal Revenue Code to exclude

all military retirement and survivor
benefits from federal income tax.

Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs

Healthcare Modernization:
The "Age-Friendly" Initiative

On 13 December 2025, the VA announced
a landmark achievement in its effort to

care for the aging veteran population.

The department certified that every
Veterans Health Administration (VHA)

Health Care System now includes
at least one team recognized as

an "Age-Friendly Health System".

This initiative addresses the shifting
demographics of the veteran community,

where a significant percentage of
patients are now presenting with complex

geriatric needs rather than solely
acute service-connected injuries.

At the core of this initiative is the
"4Ms Framework," a clinical protocol

designed to ensure safe and effective
care for older and disabled veterans:

Aligning the care plan with the
veteran's specific health goals and

personal preferences, rather than a
one-size-fits-all medical approach.

Prioritizing the use of age-friendly
medications that do not interfere

with mobility or cognitive function,
a critical consideration for

veterans managing polypharmacy for
service-connected disabilities.

Implementing rigorous screening
and management protocols for

dementia, depression, and delirium.

Ensuring that veterans maintain the
physical function necessary to move

safely and maintain independence.

This framework is particularly vital for
disabled veterans, whose service-connected

mobility impairments often exacerbate
the natural effects of aging.

The VA highlighted the case of Manuel
Velasco, an 87-year-old wheelchair-bound

veteran, whose care team utilized
this framework to transition him from

a Community Living Center back to
his home, illustrating the program's

potential to enhance independence.

Expansion of Caregiver Support

Also on 13 December 2025, the VA
announced a significant expansion of

the Program of Comprehensive Assistance
for Family Caregivers (PCAFC).

The program will now include free legal
and financial planning assistance for

the caregivers of eligible veterans.

This expansion is specifically
targeted at the families of

veterans who have sustained a
serious injury in the line of duty.

Caregivers often face a labyrinth of legal
challenges, from establishing guardianship

and power of attorney to managing estate
planning and complex financial benefits.

By providing access to certified
concierges and attorneys at no

cost, the VA aims to stabilize
the veteran's home environment.

The services include one-on-one
support, personalized legal guidance,

and referrals to trusted attorneys
for more complex litigation needs.

This move acknowledges that the
wellbeing of the disabled veteran is

inextricably linked to the stability and
capability of their primary caregiver.

Legislative Update: The "14 Bills" Package

The House of Representatives passed
a comprehensive package of fourteen

veterans' bills this week, focusing
on administrative integrity, access

to care, and claims modernization.

These bills now head to the
Senate for consideration.

Key Bills Impacting Disabled Veterans:

H.R.

3400 – TRAVEL Act of 2025: This bill
enhances the reimbursement protocols

for the Beneficiary Travel program.

For disabled veterans who must travel
significant distances to reach specialized

VA polytrauma or spinal cord injury
centers, this legislation streamlines

the reimbursement process, reducing
the financial burden of accessing care.

H.R.

3579 – Veterans Readiness and Employment
Program Integrity Act: This legislation

strengthens the oversight of the
VR&E (formerly VocRehab) program.

It is designed to prevent fraud and ensure
that resources are strictly prioritized

for veterans with service-connected
disabilities who require vocational

retraining to enter the workforce.

H.R.

1107 – Protecting Veteran Access to
Telemedicine Services Act of 2025:

This bill permanently authorizes
certain telemedicine flexibilities

established during the pandemic.

For disabled veterans with mobility
challenges or those living in rural

areas, this ensures continued access
to remote mental health and primary

care appointments without the need
for physically traveling to a clinic.

H.R.

3854 – Modernizing All Veterans and
Survivors Claims Processing Act: This

bill mandates the modernization of the IT
systems used to process survivor claims.

It aims to eliminate the backlog
that often leaves the surviving

spouses of disabled veterans waiting
months for Dependency and Indemnity

Compensation (DIC) benefits.

H.R.

3481 – Delivering Digitally to
Our Veterans Act of 2025: This

legislation authorizes the VA to
utilize digital correspondence more

broadly for claims notifications,
speeding up the adjudication

process for disability compensation.

Research Findings and
Clinical Developments

The VA’s Office of Research and
Development released new findings this

week that have direct implications for
disability claims and clinical care.

Researchers identified a significant
correlation between obstructive

sleep apnea and an increased risk
of Parkinson’s disease in veterans.

This finding could potentially open
new avenues for service-connection

claims, as sleep apnea is a
common condition among veterans.

Additionally, new research on Gulf
War Illness was published, offering

further insights into the chronic,
multi-symptom illness affecting

veterans of the 1990-1991 conflict.

These studies reinforce the
VA's commitment to understanding

the long-term toxic exposures
inherent in military service.

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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