MIL News Weekly

MIL News Weekly 1-7 Mar 2026 (Episode 40)
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[00:00:00] Weekly Briefing Kickoff
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Welcome to the MIL News Weekly for 1-7 March 2026, 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.

[00:00:39]  Issues That Affect Active and Reserve Military Personnel
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Issues That Affect Active and Reserve Military Personnel

[00:00:42] Warrior Dividend and Pay
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This week, service members began seeing the distribution of the "Warrior Dividend," a one-time payment of $1,776. This was funded by redirecting $2.6 billion in reconciliation funds that were originally intended for housing subsidies.

[00:00:57] Three Key Military Bills
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This dividend is landing just as [00:01:00] service members adjust to the 3.8% basic pay increase and the 4.2% average increase in Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) that took effect earlier this year. On the legislative front, there are three major bills you need to know about that hit milestones this week:

First is the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, known as H.R. 1 ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1.) . This is the centerpiece of the administration’s domestic and defense agenda. For active and reserve personnel, it increases defense spending by roughly $150 billion. It also includes significant tax changes, like permanent deductions for overtime pay and tips, which could provide a major boost for dual-income military families where a spouse is working in the service industry.

Next is the Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution Act, or H.R. 3838 ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3838.) . This bill is a potential game-changer for those living in high-cost areas. It lowers the threshold for the Secretary of War to provide temporary BAH adjustments from 20% down to 15%, and it makes that [00:02:00] authority permanent. This means the Department can react much faster to local spikes in rent, ensuring that service members aren't left underwater when the local housing market shifts.

Finally, we have the Warriors to Workforce Act, H.R. 982 ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/982.) . This legislation specifically focuses on the transition process, facilitating smoother pathways for departing service members into specialized federal roles. It’s about making sure the skills learned in uniform translate directly into a stable federal career.

[00:02:27]  Issues That Affect Retired Military Personnel
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Issues That Affect Retired Military Personnel

We need to talk about the retired community, where the conversation this week has been dominated by a renewed push for the Major Richard Star Act, or H.R. 2102 ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2102.) . On 3 March 2026, lawmakers and major veteran service organizations, including the VFW and the Fleet Reserve Association, launched a massive advocacy push on Capitol Hill. If you aren’t familiar with the Star Act, it aims to eliminate what many call the "wounded veteran tax."

Currently, about [00:03:00] 54,000 combat-injured veterans who were medically retired before reaching 20 years of service—known as Chapter 61 retirees—face a dollar-for-dollar offset. Essentially, their military retirement pay is reduced by the amount they receive in VA disability compensation. The Star Act would allow these veterans to receive both their full retirement pay and their full VA disability benefits simultaneously. Senator Jerry Moran pledged on 3 March to find a path through the Senate Armed Services Committee, even as Senator Ron Johnson raised concerns about the long-term cost, which he estimated could reach $70 billion if expanded to all medical retirees.

[00:03:39] COLA and Veteran Job Protections
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However, the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee currently pegs the cost of the Richard Star Act specifically at $11 billion over 10 years. For retirees watching their bank accounts, the 2.8% Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is now fully in effect as of early 2026. This adjustment applies to traditional retired pay and Survivor [00:04:00] Benefit Plan annuities. However, it’s important to remember that if you entered the service on or after 1 August 1986 and chose the CSB/REDUX plan, your COLA is a bit lower this year at 1.8%.

Retirees should also be aware of the Protect Veteran Jobs Act, which is H.R. 1637 in the House and S. 914 in the Senate ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1637.) . This bill was introduced in the Senate in March 2026 by Senators Tammy Duckworth and Andy Kim. It’s a direct response to the federal workforce reductions seen over the last year. The bill would provide reinstatement rights for any veteran who was involuntarily removed or dismissed from a civil service position without cause between 20 January 2025 and the date of the bill’s enactment.

[00:04:43] Survivor Benefits Fast Track
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It also mandates quarterly reports to Congress to ensure transparency regarding why veterans are being let go from federal agencies.Lastly, we have the Ernest Peltz Accrued Veterans Benefits Act, H.R. 3123 ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3123.) . This bill passed the House [00:05:00] this week and focuses on survivors.

[00:05:02] VA Ratings Rule Reversed
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It aims to expedite the payment of accrued benefits to the families of deceased veterans, cutting through the red tape that often leaves survivors waiting months for final payments.

[00:05:11]  Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs
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Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs

Finally, we turn to the Department of Veterans Affairs, where this week has seen both administrative victories and serious infrastructure warnings.The biggest headline for many of you came on 1 March 2026. The VA officially finalized the rescission of a proposed rule that would have lowered disability ratings for veterans whose conditions improved with medication. This was a massive win for advocates. Secretary Doug Collins initially called the controversy "fake news," but after a massive backlash—including over 20,000 public comments—the VA reversed course.

[00:05:48] GI Bill Expansion and VA Staffing
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The rescission means that your rating is based on the service-connected wound itself, not on how well your body responds to treatment. Another major update arrived on 4 March 2026, regarding [00:06:00] education. The VA announced an expansion of GI Bill benefits following the Perkins v. Collins court ruling. Veterans eligible for both the Montgomery GI Bill and the Post-9/11 GI Bill can now use up to a combined 48 months of benefits, even if they didn't have a break in service.

The VA is automating this process for those with less than three months of benefits remaining, so you shouldn't have to jump through extra hoops to get that extension. However, the news isn't all positive. During a joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees on 4 March 2026, the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) delivered some alarming testimony. They reported a 36% staffing shortage in acute care at the VA’s Spinal Cord Injury and Disorder (SCI/D) centers. This has resulted in nearly half of the VA's acute care beds for paralyzed veterans being unavailable.

[00:06:52] Bills to Watch for Veterans
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In response, the VA announced a historic investment of $4.8 billion for 2026 to modernize and repair [00:07:00] healthcare facilities, with $2.8 billion specifically earmarked for infrastructure repairs. On the legislative side, we have five critical bills for veterans to watch:

First is the Saving Our Veterans Lives Act, which is H.R. 1987 or S. 926 ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1987.) . Introduced in early March, this bill establishes a voluntary program to provide free firearm lockboxes to veterans. It’s a targeted suicide prevention strategy that explicitly prohibits the VA from collecting personal info about firearm ownership or creating any kind of registration list.

Next, the VETS Opportunity Act, H.R. 1458 ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1458.) . This bill passed the House this week. It modernizes the GI Bill to include certificate and technical training programs, recognizing that not every veteran wants a four-year degree but many want skills-based training for high-demand trades.

Then we have the Veterans Readiness and Employment Improvement Act, H.R. 980 ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/980.) . Also passing the House this week, this bill aims to cut through the red tape of the VR&E program by putting more counselors on the [00:08:00] ground and establishing a direct support hotline for veterans seeking vocational rehab.

On the housing front, two bills are moving through the Senate. The Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act, H.R. 224 ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/224,) , requires that service-connected disability compensation be excluded when determining if a veteran is "low income" for housing assistance.

Similarly, the Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act, H.R. 965, ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/965,) , would permanently exclude disability compensation from being counted as income when determining eligibility for HUD-VASH housing vouchers. This ensures that as your benefits increase, you don't accidentally "earn" your way out of the housing support you need.

[00:08:39] Wrap Up and Subscribe
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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. Be sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, so you never miss an update. We’ll be back next week with another roundup of the news that matters most to the military and veteran community.