MIL News Weekly

MIL News Weekly 26 Apr - 2 May 2026 (Episode 48)
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[00:00:00] Weekly Briefing Intro
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Welcome to the MIL News Weekly for 26 April to 2 May 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.

[00:00:38]  Issues That Affect Active and Reserve Military Personnel
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Issues That Affect Active and Reserve Military Personnel

We begin with the resolution of a domestic crisis that has hovered over our maritime security for seventy-six days. On 1 May 2026, the United States House of Representatives finally took the decisive step to end the partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security. This was not just a bureaucratic [00:01:00] milestone; for the thousands of men and women serving in the United States Coast Guard, this was a moment of profound personal and financial relief. The House passed a funding bill that had already cleared the Senate, which provides 48 billion dollars to the covered agencies within the Department of Homeland Security for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2026.

President Trump signed this legislation into law on 1 May 2026, immediately triggering the restoration of full operations for the Coast Guard. The impact of this shutdown cannot be overstated. For over two months, Coast Guard personnel—who are essential to our national security but fall under the Department of Homeland Security rather than the Department of War—were forced to operate without the certainty of a paycheck. Representative Ed Case noted that this resolution restarts paychecks for hardworking government employees at our airports and maritime stations and ensures that FEMA disaster responses can continue without interruption.

Within this funding package, which we should identify as the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of [00:02:00] 2026 (H.R. 7147), the Coast Guard received 13.9 billion dollars in total funding. This bill is critical for active and reserve personnel because it allocates 116 million dollars specifically to support the Coast Guard’s expanding mission in the Indo-Pacific, a theater that has become the focal point of our strategic competition. It also includes 15 million dollars for the Honolulu Homeport Project, which is vital for the maintenance and operation of our cutter fleet.

[00:02:28] PCS and Travel Card Relief
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Before this legislative relief arrived on 1 May 2026, the Coast Guard leadership had to take extraordinary measures to protect its members during the final days of the lapse. On 29 April 2026, the service issued guidance for Assignment Year 2026, clarifying that Permanent Change of Station, or PCS, moves were to remain fully executable. To prevent families from being financially crippled by relocation costs during the shutdown, the Coast Guard established a Permanent Change of Station Joint Task Force. [00:03:00] They authorized the expanded use of the Government Travel Charge Card for all relocation expenses, including for those opting for Personally Procured Moves. Most importantly, they raised the card limits to a baseline of 20,000 dollars and secured a deal with Citibank to ensure that no late fees or negative credit reporting would occur while the funding lapse continued.

Now that the shutdown has ended, active-duty members have a 21-day grace period, making their GTCC payments due on 23 May 2026. This logistical maneuver was a lifeline for families caught in the middle of a move. For our reservists, the news was equally vital. Many reserve members on orders had accumulated significant balances on their travel cards due to training and mobilizations during the shutdown. The Coast Guard committed to providing specific communications tailored to reservists by the end of this week to ensure their financial transition is as smooth as that of the active-duty force.

[00:03:54] Department of War Rebrand
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While the Coast Guard was navigating the end of the shutdown, the broader military establishment was focusing on a [00:04:00] transformative vision for the future. On 28 April 2026, the Pentagon formally requested that Congress codify a fundamental rebranding of the military: changing the "Department of Defense" back to its original 1789 title, the "Department of War". This proposal, which has been gaining steam since a September 2025 executive order, is estimated to cost taxpayers approximately 52.5 million dollars.

The reasoning behind this name change is more than just symbolic. In a legislative proposal released on 28 April 2026, department officials stated that the revision serves as a "fundamental reminder of the importance and reverence of our core mission, to fight and win wars". Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argued during his testimony before the House Armed Services Committee on 29 April 2026 that the name "Department of War" conveys a stronger message of readiness and resolve compared to "Department of Defense," which he suggests emphasizes only defensive capabilities. The [00:05:00] rebranding would update over 7,600 instances of language in federal law and change the "Office of the Secretary of Defense" (OSD) to the "Office of the Secretary of War" (OSW).

[00:05:11] FY27 Budget and Pay Raises
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To support this more aggressive posture, the administration unveiled a historic 1.5 trillion-dollar budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2027. This is the largest defense expenditure in modern U.S. history, representing a 42 percent increase over current funding levels. A major portion of this—756.8 billion dollars—is earmarked for rebuilding and expanding the Defense Industrial Base. For the active-duty personnel listening, the most significant part of this budget is the proposed pay raise.

The Fiscal Year 2027 Department of War Budget Proposal seeks to implement a tiered pay raise system designed to prioritize junior enlisted members. Under the plan, all troops ranked E-5 and below would receive a 7 percent pay raise in 2027. Those ranked between E-6 and O-3 would receive a 6 percent [00:06:00] bump, and senior officers at O-4 and above would see a 5 percent increase. This comes on the heels of the 3.8 percent increase that went into effect for all ranks on 1 January 2026. If approved, this 2027 raise would nearly double the current year’s increase for over 540,000 junior enlisted members, which the administration claims is an "enduring investment" to restore America’s fighting force.

Within the Army’s portion of this massive request—a 253 billion-dollar proposal unveiled on 21 April 2026 and discussed heavily during this week’s hearings—the focus is on "transformation". The Army is seeking an end-strength growth of 18,300 Soldiers across the active and reserve components. The funding is specifically allocated to accelerate the acquisition of next-generation technology, such as the MV-75 Cheyenne tilt-rotor aircraft and the advanced M1E3 Abrams tank. The strategic goal is to move away from "feckless nation-building" and refocus on [00:07:00] "peace through strength".

[00:07:01] Germany Troop Drawdown
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However, as the military looks to expand its technological and domestic capabilities, its global footprint is shifting. On 2 May 2026, while speaking to journalists in Florida, President Trump revealed that the U.S. troop drawdown in Germany would go "a lot further" than the 5,000 service members previously indicated by the Pentagon. At the end of last year, there were roughly 36,000 active-duty members stationed in Germany, a number that rises to nearly 50,000 when including reservists and civilian workers. The President expressed continuing frustration with European allies for not taking a more active role in regional security, signaling that the actual number of troops being pulled will be significantly higher than initial estimates.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius responded by stating that while the move was expected and that European nations should indeed take more responsibility, the presence of American soldiers remains in the mutual interest of both regions. This drawdown represents a significant [00:08:00] shift in the operational reality for thousands of active and reserve personnel currently stationed in Europe, many of whom may see their deployments cut short or their units relocated in the coming months.

[00:08:10] Anti Fraud Contracting Bill
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To protect the integrity of the funds being poured into these new initiatives, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform advanced the Federal Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention Act of 2025 (H.R. 6916) on 29 April 2026. This bill, co-led by Representative Keith Self and Representative Emily Randall, is a critical piece of legislation for active-duty and federal employees because it prohibits anyone convicted of a felony related to fraud against the government from participating in federal contracts or receiving grants for a three-year period.

With the Department of War preparing to manage a 1.5 trillion-dollar budget, the potential for waste and fraud is a significant concern for policymakers. This bill requires the Attorney General to identify convicted fraudsters and notify the General Services Administration, [00:09:00] which will then list them as "excluded sources" in the System for Award Management. It also doubles the maximum cash award for federal employees who report wasteful spending from 10,000 to 20,000 dollars. This is a clear call to the active-duty and civilian workforce to serve as the front line of fiscal responsibility.

[00:09:18]  Issues That Affect Retired Military Personnel
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Issues That Affect Retired Military Personnel

For our retired military community, the week of 26 April 2026 brought a monumental shift in the legislative outlook for a long-standing grievance. We are talking about the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102 / S. 1032). For decades, combat-wounded veterans who were medically retired before reaching twenty years of service have faced a dollar-for-dollar offset in their benefits, often referred to as the "wounded veteran tax". Essentially, if they receive disability compensation from the VA, their hard-earned military retirement pay is reduced by that exact amount.

On 1 May 2026, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth formally threw the weight of the Pentagon behind this [00:10:00] bill. During a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2027 budget request, Hegseth stated, "We support the Richard Star Act". This is a massive development because, despite having the support of 79 Senators and 323 House members, the bill has been repeatedly blocked by some lawmakers concerned about the cost. Senator Ron Johnson has previously objected, citing a 70 billion-dollar price tag over ten years. However, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee clarifies that the Richard Star Act specifically applies to roughly 54,000 medical retirees eligible for Combat Related Special Compensation, which brings the estimated cost down to a much more manageable 11 billion dollars over ten years.

The Major Richard Star Act would finally allow these combat-injured veterans to receive both their full retirement pay and their VA disability compensation concurrently. Reference the transcript for the link to this legislation.

( https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2102.)

Advocates from the Military Officers Association of America and the Veterans of Foreign Wars are urging [00:11:00] retirees to contact their lawmakers immediately, as the support of the Secretary of War may be the final push needed to get this bill to the floor for a vote.

[00:11:08] Social Security Fairness Updates
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While the Star Act represents a potential future gain, many retirees are currently feeling the benefits of a major legislative victory from last year: the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82). This landmark bill, signed into law on 5 January 2025, repealed the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). For retirees who spent years in public service—such as firefighters, police officers, and federal employees under the Civil Service Retirement System—these "Evil Twins" of policy had unfairly reduced their Social Security benefits for decades.

Throughout the reporting period of late April 2026, the Social Security Administration has been providing updates on the implementation of this repeal. The act is retroactive to January 2024, and the SSA has already issued over 3.1 million payments totaling 17 [00:12:00] billion dollars to beneficiaries who were owed back-pay. For many retirees, this has meant a one-time lump sum and a permanent increase in their monthly checks, with some seeing benefits rise by as much as 587 dollars per month. It is important to note that WEP and GPO still apply to months prior to January 2024, but for the current and future retired population, these penalties are a thing of the past.

[00:12:24] Federal Pay Freeze Fight
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However, the fiscal outlook for 2027 is not entirely rosy for all retired federal employees. While the administration is proposing a 5 to 7 percent raise for active-duty military, the budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2027 is notably silent on a pay raise for civilian federal employees, suggesting a potential pay freeze. This has significant implications for retirees because civilian pay levels often influence future retirement calculations and cost-of-living adjustments.

In response, advocates are pushing for the Federal Adjustment of Incomes Rates (FAIR) Act (S. [00:13:00] 3823), which would provide a 4.1 percent pay boost for federal employees in 2027. The FAIR Act is designed to help close the 27 percent pay gap between the federal and private sectors, ensuring that the government can continue to recruit and retain the talent it needs. On 27 April 2026, the House Appropriations Committee voted along party lines to advance a spending bill that omitted this raise, setting up a major legislative fight in the coming months.

Retirees should also be aware of a 2.8 percent Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) that was applied to military retirement and disability payments starting in January 2026. This increase was designed to ensure that benefits keep pace with inflation, and thanks to 2024 legislation, these adjustments are now automatically aligned with Social Security increases. While the announcement was briefly delayed by the government shutdown, the payments are now standardized, providing a degree of financial predictability that was previously missing.

[00:13:59] TRICARE Survivor Coverage
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[00:14:00] For surviving spouses and family members of retirees, TRICARE issued an important reminder on 30 April 2026 regarding the continuity of benefits. When a retired service member passes away, their survivors remain eligible for medical and dental coverage. Surviving spouses can maintain their TRICARE coverage until they remarry, and for the first three years, the federal government pays 100 percent of the monthly premiums for the TRICARE Dental Program Survivor Benefit Plan. After those three years, spouses may transition to the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP). This ensures that the families of our retired heroes are not left without a safety net during their most difficult times.

[00:14:40] Farm Bill for Veteran Farmers
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Finally, we must look at the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567), which passed the House on 30 April 2026. This "Farm Bill" is of particular interest to retirees who have transitioned into the agricultural sector. Title XI of the bill modifies the definition of "veteran [00:15:00] farmers and ranchers" and increases the premium subsidies available to them for federal crop insurance. This makes it more affordable for retired veterans to manage the risks associated with starting and maintaining a farm.

[00:15:11]  Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs
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Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs

The final section of our report focuses on the Department of Veterans Affairs and the significant strides made in protecting and serving those who have already hung up the uniform. The headline news this week is a bipartisan crackdown on the fraudsters who target veterans. On 30 April 2026, lawmakers in both the House and Senate introduced the Veterans Protection from Fraud Act of 2026.

This legislation, introduced by Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Ted Budd and Representative Tim Burchett, seeks to address a glaring gap in federal law. While there are currently sentencing enhancements for fraud crimes that target seniors over the age of 55, no such protection exists for veterans of all ages. This bill would amend 18 U.S.C. § 2326 to impose a sentencing enhancement of [00:16:00] up to ten years in prison for anyone convicted of fraud that purposefully targets a veteran.

This is not a theoretical problem. In 2023, fraud cost veterans, service members, and their families approximately 477 million dollars. Scammers often tailor their tactics to exploit veterans' trust in government institutions and their reliance on benefits. If enacted, this bill would send a clear signal that exploiting a veteran’s service is an aggravating factor that warrants severe punishment.

Related to this effort is the Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion (VSAFE) Act of 2025 (H.R. 1663), which has seen significant progress in late April 2026. This act would establish a dedicated VSAFE Officer within the Department of Veterans Affairs, responsible for creating a unified framework to prevent, report, and respond to scams affecting the veteran community. The officer would promote the VSAFE.gov website and the VSAFE Fraud Hotline, ensuring that veterans have a single, reliable point of contact when they [00:17:00] suspect they are being targeted.

On the state level, California has already moved to close the "federal fraud loophole." Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed Senate Bill 694, which took effect during this period to crack down on "claims sharks"—unaccredited businesses that charge illegal fees to help veterans apply for VA benefits. The law prohibits these businesses from requiring veterans to share their secure government login credentials or Common Access Card PINs. This is a major win for veterans in California, and it serves as a model for the kind of "claims sharks" legislation that advocates are pushing for at the federal level with the GUARD VA Benefits Act (H.R. 1139).

[00:17:38] VA Claims and Healthcare Gains
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Beyond protection from fraud, the VA is reporting historic improvements in its core mission of delivering benefits. On 15 April 2026, Secretary Collins announced that the VA has dramatically reduced processing times for disability claims. The average number of days to complete a claim has fallen from 141.5 days to 80.7 days—a 43 percent [00:18:00] decrease in just over a year. Accuracy rates have also hit a two-year high of 94.02 percent. For those waiting on pension and survivor benefits, the news is even better: the average time to complete an initial Veterans Pension claim has dropped by 66 percent, from 170 days to just 57 days.

These administrative improvements have led to a surge in health care enrollment. As of 31 March 2026, more than 100,000 new veterans have enrolled in VA health care this year, a milestone reached faster than in six of the last seven years. The VA has opened 34 new health care facilities and provided over 2.2 million appointments outside of normal operating hours to meet this increased demand.

[00:18:41] Education and Apprenticeships
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Education benefits are also being maximized following two recent court rulings, Rudisill v. McDonough and Perkins v. Collins. These rulings potentially allow millions of veterans to receive an additional twelve months of education benefits, for a total of forty-eight months. On 26 March 2026, [00:19:00] and continuing through this week, the VA announced it is no longer requiring veterans to formally request an eligibility assessment under the Rudisill decision; the VA will now automatically assess eligibility to ensure that students do not lose out on the benefits they’ve earned.

This week also marked National Apprenticeship Week, from 26 April to 2 May 2026. The VA is using this week to highlight "earn while you learn" pathways in skilled trades, manufacturing, and the maritime industry. Veterans can use their G.I. Bill benefits for on-the-job training, and the Veteran Readiness and Employment (VR&E) program is available to help those with service-connected disabilities prepare for these high-demand careers. This initiative is particularly relevant as the Department of War seeks to expand the Defense Industrial Base, which will require a massive influx of skilled labor—a role for which veterans are uniquely qualified.

[00:19:52] More Veteran Bills and Wrap Up
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Finally, we should highlight several other legislative priorities for veterans that were discussed this week:

• The SAVES Act [00:20:00] (H.R. 1026), which seeks to expand evidentiary standards for military sexual trauma survivors. ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1026)

• The Dental Care for Veterans Act (H.R. 2581), which aims to provide dental care to all veterans enrolled in the VA system. ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2581)

• The TAP Promotion Act (H.R. 3933), expanding the Transition Assistance Program to ensure separating service members are better prepared for civilian life. ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3933)

• The FAST VETS Act (H.R. 4446), which was recently signed into law to specify the conditions for redeveloping vocational rehabilitation plans. ( https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/4446)

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.