MIL News Weekly

Edward: Welcome to the MIL News Weekly for
27 July - 2 August 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

This section focuses on the latest
news and legislative actions directly

impacting active duty service members
and those serving in the Reserve

components, highlighting the Department
of Defense's ongoing commitment to

improving the lives of its personnel.

The Department of Defense (DOD)
continues its significant efforts to

reform the Permanent Change of Station
(PCS) process, a perennial source

of stress for military families.

On August 1, 2025, the PCS Task Force
launched a dedicated call center,

designed to provide immediate answers
and support for military moves.

This initiative follows earlier
strategic decisions, including the

termination of the HomeSafe Alliance
contract on June 18, 2025, and the

task force's earlier commitment in June
2025 to prioritize trust, timeliness,

and accountability in relocations.

These actions collectively underscore
a clear, high-level commitment within

the DOD to address long-standing
challenges with military relocations.

The consistent and prominent reporting
on PCS reform within this timeframe

signals a strategic, sustained effort.

Improving the quality of life for
service members and their families

directly impacts morale, retention rates,
and ultimately, military readiness.

When service members are less burdened
by logistical challenges, they

can better focus on their mission.

The decision to terminate a major
contract, even with the risk of short-term

disruption, demonstrates that the DOD is
not content with incremental improvements

but is willing to make drastic changes
to ensure effective service delivery.

This indicates an institutional learning
curve and a shift towards more decisive

action to resolve persistent issues that
were previously deemed inadequate or

failing to meet military families' needs.

Alongside PCS reforms, the DOD
is actively expanding child care

availability, with a specific
announcement concerning Norfolk, Virginia.

This initiative is part of
a broader effort launched on

June 11, 2025, to provide more
options for military families.

This emphasis on child care expansion
reveals a fundamental understanding

within the DOD about the factors
influencing military personnel decisions.

For military families, especially
those with two service members

or a service member and a working
spouse, child care is a critical

logistical and financial concern.

When child care is difficult to secure,
expensive, or unreliable, it creates

significant stress that can lead to
service members leaving the military.

By expanding availability, the
DOD is directly addressing a known

barrier to retention and recruitment.

This investment in family support is
not merely a welfare measure; it is a

strategic investment in maintaining a
strong, stable, and ready fighting force.

It acknowledges that the well-being
of military families is inextricably

linked to the operational
effectiveness of the service member.

The continued expansion also suggests
that previous provisions were insufficient

or that demand continues to outstrip
supply, necessitating ongoing efforts.

H.R.

3944 - Military Construction,
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies

Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2026

While specific appropriation details
are not available in the provided

information, this bill is a critical piece
of legislation, having seen significant

action in the Senate during this period.

On July 23, 2025, a
motion to proceed to H.R.

3944 was confirmed in the Senate,
following a cloture vote on July 22.

An amendment (S.Amdt.

3447) related to veterans and firearm
suicide was rejected on August 1, 2025.

This bill directly impacts funding
for military construction projects,

which are vital for active duty and
reserve readiness and quality of life.

Provisions Affecting Federal
Civilian Employees (including

those in the Reserves)

The landscape for federal civilian
employees, many of whom serve in

the reserves, is also evolving
due to recent legislative changes.

OPM Memo on Recent Pay and Leave
Legislative Changes (April 10, 2025):

This memorandum details changes
primarily resulting from the enactment

of the Servicemember Quality of Life
Improvement and National Defense

Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025
(Public Law 118-159, December 23, 2024).

Increase in Military Leave Accrual
and Accumulation (Section 1109 of

FY25 NDAA): This section increases
military leave accrual and

maximum carryover under 5 U.S.C.

6323(a)(1) from 15 to 20 days for
active duty, active duty training,

and inactive duty training.

This change was effective December
23, 2024, for Fiscal Year 2025.

Employees could potentially have
up to 35 days of military leave in

Fiscal Year 2025 (15 carried over from
Fiscal Year 2024 plus 20 new days).

Starting October 1, 2025 (Fiscal
Year 2026), employees will accrue

20 days annually and can carry
over up to 20 days, potentially

having 40 days in a fiscal year.

This directly provides more flexibility
and financial stability for federal

employees who are also military
reservists or National Guard members.

This policy aims to make it easier
for federal employees to fulfill

their military obligations without
undue financial or leave-related

stress, supporting their dual
roles and potentially improving

retention in both federal civilian
service and the reserve components.

It signals a governmental commitment
to supporting those who serve in both

capacities, recognizing the critical
contributions of the reserve forces.

Extension of Waiver for Premium Pay
and Aggregate Pay Limitation (Section

1104 of FY25 NDAA): This provides a
one-year extension of authority to

waive annual limitation on premium
pay and aggregate limitation on pay

for federal civilian employees working
overseas for Calendar Year 2025.

Extension of Temporary Authority for
Allowances in Combat Zones (Section

1105 of FY25 NDAA): A one-year
extension of temporary authority

to grant allowances, benefits, and
gratuities to civilian personnel

on official duty in a combat zone.

Key News and Initiatives for
Retired Military Personnel

For this current period there is no
specific news directly and exclusively

targeting retired military personnel,
apart from legislative impacts.

Congressional Legislation Affecting
Retired Military Personnel

Issues That Affect Veterans Affairs

Key News and Initiatives from the
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)

The Department of Veterans Affairs has
seen several important developments

during this period, demonstrating
continued efforts to enhance

services and address critical needs.

A key leadership appointment was
announced with the VA and the

National Cemetery Administration
welcoming the Honorable Samuel B.

Brown as the eighth Under
Secretary for Memorial Affairs.

This appointment is crucial
for the oversight of national

cemeteries and memorial benefits.

Significant progress has been made by
the Board of Veterans Appeals, which

is celebrating its 92nd birthday by
surpassing 92,000 dispatched disability

appeals faster this year than ever before.

This achievement indicates a systemic
improvement, not just a one-off success.

This accelerated processing suggests
either increased resources, improved

internal processes, or technological
advancements in managing appeals.

It points to a strategic, sustained
effort by the VA to address the

long-standing issue of appeals backlogs,
reflecting a commitment to improving

efficiency and delivering benefits
to veterans more promptly, likely in

response to past criticisms and ongoing
advocacy for faster claims processing.

This trend is crucial for veteran
satisfaction and trust in the VA system.

The VA is also accelerating Federal
Electronic Health Record (EHR)

deployment to securely and effectively
share information between the VA, DOD,

other federal agencies, and community
care providers, aiming to deliver

veteran benefits more efficiently.

This continued focus on accelerating
EHR deployment highlights a

critical, ongoing strategic priority.

This initiative is foundational to
providing seamless, coordinated healthcare

for veterans throughout their lives,
from active duty to post-service care,

addressing the historical challenge
of fragmented medical records between

military and civilian systems.

The term "accelerating" implies that
previous progress might have been too

slow or faced significant hurdles, and
this renewed push indicates a recognition

that robust interoperability is no
longer just a desirable feature but a

necessary component for efficient and
high-quality veteran care, impacting

everything from accurate diagnoses
to timely benefits processing.

In terms of healthcare access, on July
28, 2025, the Orlando VA Healthcare

System opened a new Urgent Care Clinic
at the Viera VA Clinic, providing

timely and convenient same-day
medical attention for veterans.

Congressional Legislation
Affecting Veterans Affairs

Several bills impacting veterans
affairs, including those relevant to

disabled veterans, have seen activity
in Congress during this period.

S.423

- PRO Veterans Act of 2025 (Protecting
Regular Order for Veterans Act of 2025):

This bill, which passed the House on July
21, 2025, aims to increase Congressional

oversight of the VA budget and regulate
senior-level employee incentives.

It mandates the VA to provide
quarterly budget briefings to Congress,

including information on any budget
shortfalls and plans to address them.

This enhances Congress's ability to
monitor the VA's financial situation.

The bill also prohibits critical
skill incentives (payment bonuses

for high-demand skills) for
certain senior-level employees

at the VA's central office (e.g.,

Veterans Health Administration),
regardless of their work location.

Exceptions allow individual
incentives with approval from

specified officers (e.g.,

Under Secretary for Health) and for
senior-level employees primarily at

the central office but performing
some functions at other VA facilities.

Finally, it requires the VA to
report annually to Congress on

senior-level employees who received
critical skill incentives, promoting

transparency and accountability.

These provisions reflect a
clear legislative intent to

enhance oversight of the VA.

Given past scrutiny regarding
financial management and administrative

efficiency, these measures are
designed to increase transparency

and accountability, ensuring that VA
resources are managed effectively and

that incentive programs are not misused.

This indicates a proactive stance
to prevent future issues and

ensure fiscal responsibility within
a critical government agency.

H.R.1663

- VSAFE Act of 2025: This bill was ordered
to be reported (amended) by Voice

Vote in the House on July 23, 2025.

It establishes a Veterans Scam and
Fraud Evasion Officer within the VA,

responsible for fraud and scam prevention,
reporting, and incident response.

It also extends certain loan fee
rates under the VA's home loan

program through June 23, 2034.

The VSAFE Act's core provision to
establish a dedicated officer for

scam and fraud evasion highlights
a significant and growing concern.

Veterans often receive benefits
(pensions, disability, education,

home loans) that make them attractive
targets for fraudsters, and they may

also be more trusting or less familiar
with complex financial schemes.

Creating a dedicated "Scam and
Fraud Evasion Officer" signifies a

proactive and specialized approach
to protecting veterans' financial

well-being, acknowledging the unique
vulnerabilities of this population

and the need for tailored prevention,
reporting, and response mechanisms.

This is a crucial step in safeguarding
veterans' hard-earned benefits and

ensuring their economic security.

The extension of loan fee rates
also reinforces continued support

for veteran homeownership.

SB2673 - Medic Transition to Civilian
Workforce Act of 2025: Introduced on

August 1, 2025, this bill requires the
Secretary of Defense and the Secretary

of Homeland Security to improve the
transition of medics into civilian

healthcare occupations and modify
assistance for separated service

members seeking healthcare employment.

SB2623 - National Cemetery Administration
Transparency Act of 2025: Introduced

on July 31, 2025, this bill aims
to enhance the transparency of the

National Cemetery Administration (NCA)
of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Specific provisions are not yet
detailed in the provided information.

SB2534 - Military and Veteran Reproductive
Assistance Act of 2025: Introduced

on July 30, 2025, this bill aims to
improve reproductive assistance provided

by the Department of Defense and the
Department of Veterans Affairs to

certain members of the Armed Forces,
veterans, and their spouses or partners.

Specific provisions are not yet
detailed in the provided information.

The introduction of this bill
indicates an expansion of what is

considered "comprehensive care"
for service members and veterans.

Military service, including exposure
to hazards or injuries, can impact

reproductive health, and many
service members and veterans are

at an age where family planning is
a significant life consideration.

This bill suggests a growing
recognition that healthcare for service

members and veterans must extend
beyond physical and mental health

to include reproductive well-being.

It acknowledges the profound impact that
service can have on personal and family

life, and that support in this area is
a critical component of holistic care.

It implies that existing provisions
were insufficient or not adequately

accessible, prompting this legislative
push for improved services.

SB2493 - Veterans Disability Compensation
Medical Examinations Improvement Act

of 2025: Introduced on July 29, 2025,
this bill aims to improve matters

relating to medical examinations for
veterans disability compensation.

Specific provisions are not yet
detailed in the provided information.

The bill's stated purpose points to a
persistent challenge in the VA system.

Medical examinations are a cornerstone
of the disability claims process;

their accuracy and efficiency directly
impact whether a veteran receives the

correct compensation in a timely manner.

The phrase "improve matters
relating to" suggests that there

are existing inefficiencies,
inconsistencies, or shortcomings

in the current examination process.

This bill aims to streamline, standardize,
or enhance the quality of these

examinations, which could lead to faster,
fairer, and more accurate disability

determinations for veterans, reducing the
need for appeals and improving veteran

satisfaction with the claims process.

SB2501 - Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion
Officer Act of 2025: Introduced on July

29, 2025, this bill aims to establish a
Veterans Scam and Fraud Evasion Officer

within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Specific provisions are not yet
detailed in the provided information.

The presence of two bills (H.R.1663

and SB2501) introduced in different
chambers but with nearly identical

objectives is highly significant.

When similar legislation is introduced
concurrently in both the House and Senate,

it often signals a strong, bipartisan
consensus on the issue's importance.

This redundancy increases the probability
that some form of dedicated fraud

prevention and evasion mechanism for
veterans will become law, indicating

Congress's commitment to protecting
veterans from financial exploitation.

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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We’ll be back next week with another
roundup of the news that matters most

to the military and veteran community.