The White House has released its Fiscal Year 2027 budget proposal. It contains a plan to increase national defense spending to $1.5 trillion, a 44% surge that stands in contrast to a proposed $73 billion reduction in non-defense discretionary spending. Learn more.
The Pentagon has authorized hazardous duty / combat zone pay for United States troops in the Indian Ocean and at Diego Garcia. This hazardous duty pay update follows a March 20, 2026, missile attack when Iran targeted the area. The authorization affects thousands, including those permanently assigned to the Diego Garcia Naval Support Facility and… Read more »
The TRICARE Extended Care Health Option, known as ECHO, is a resource for Exceptional Family Member program families who require services beyond the scope of standard TRICARE coverage. TRICARE updated its guidance for this program in 2026, clarifying how families can access these benefits. >> Never miss benefits news and updates that are important to… Read more »
The Department of Defense has launched the Individual Longitudinal Exposure Record, designed to provide service members with direct access to their personal environmental and occupational toxic exposure history related to military service. This initiative is part of a larger federal effort to address military toxic exposures and give troops the documentation required to secure healthcare… Read more »
The ACLU has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) over book removals and curriculum changes in Department of Defense-run schools. The lawsuit, filed in April 2025 by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of 12 students and military families, challenged the removal of nearly 600 books from DoDEA libraries…. Read more »
Between deployments, training rotations, and living in remote or rural areas, getting into a dentist’s chair isn’t always as simple as making an appointment down the street. Enter the newest evolution in military healthcare, teledentistry. Virtual medicine isn’t exactly new, but TRICARE is now making digital dental care a standard part of its operations through… Read more »
On February 14, 2026, a partial government shutdown went into effect, forcing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to cease all non-essential functions, including civilian employee labor at the U.S. Coast Guard. In spite of the partial shutdown, active duty and reserve component members of the Coast Guard have not missed paychecks, but it’s unclear… Read more »
The War Powers Resolution, often called the War Powers Act, was enacted to ensure that the collective judgment of both Congress and the President applies to the introduction of U.S. military forces into hostilities. This federal law is meant to balance the President’s role as Commander in Chief with the power of Congress to declare… Read more »
Learn how TRICARE Virtual Urgent Care modernizes military healthcare with accessible virtual appointments for Prime members.
A military lifestyle survey reports that 28% of U.S. military families experience food insecurity directly attributable to military service, a 16% increase from the previous survey. But does the Department of Defense have what it takes to address this issue? Some believe the signs are not promising unless a serious rethink of junior enlisted pay and benefits happens in the wake of the lifestyle survey.