This week, Congress is in the spotlight with major decisions on the defense budget that will impact paychecks and healthcare for every service member. We'll break down the massive National Defense Authorization Act. On the national security front, a startling cyberattack against the National Guard has been revealed, raising serious questions about our digital defenses. Meanwhile, the Department of Veterans Affairs is undergoing a major shakeup, with plans to cut its workforce and tighten policies on remote work for disabled employees.
Reply on Bluesky

During the second week of July 2025, the U.S. military and veterans affairs landscape was marked by significant policy shifts and legislative action. The Pentagon introduced a new doctrine to accelerate the use of small drones by reclassifying them as "expendables," empowering lower-level commanders with purchasing authority. This move is influenced by lessons from the war in Ukraine.

The White House issued executive orders to reinstate service members discharged over the COVID-19 vaccine mandate and eliminate all federal Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) offices. In Congress, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" passed the Senate, allocating more funds for housing, childcare, and the drone industry.

For retirees, a major change now allows National Guard soldiers mobilized under 12304b authority to receive early retirement credit retroactively to 2012. The 2025 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for retirement and disability pay was set at 2.5%.

The Department of Veterans Affairs announced a plan to cut 30,000 jobs through attrition, sparking concern among advocacy groups about potential impacts on service quality. Simultaneously, the VA expanded burial benefits for veterans in hospice care and discounted life insurance premiums.

From June 29 to July 5, 2025, active-duty and reserve military personnel were heavily involved in domestic missions, including assisting ICE facilities in Florida, Texas, and Louisiana, with thousands of Guard and reserve troops stationed along the U.S.-Mexico border. Financially, a defense budget reconciliation package allocated up to $157 billion for housing, pay raises, and bonuses to improve retention and conditions for military families. Recruitment also surged in the Air Force and Space Force, though the Army and Navy struggled.

For retired military personnel, the main update was a shift in the billing process for the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) premiums, starting in August 2025, through DFAS. Additionally, the House is considering the Disabled Veterans Tax Termination Act (H.R. 333), which would allow veterans with service-connected disabilities to receive both retired pay and VA disability compensation concurrently.

In veterans' affairs, there was significant concern over proposed changes to SNAP exemptions for disabled veterans, which could cut benefits for many low-income veterans. Other legislative efforts, including the "Putting Veterans First Act" and the "Veterans' ACCESS Act," aim to improve veterans' health services, care options, and mental health support, particularly for disabled veterans. Several bills also focus on veterans' housing and legal protections.