


Has the military been miscalculating spouse unemployment?
A recent report suggests that the Pentagon has overstated spouse unemployment rates and obscured factors unique to a military lifestyle.

Veterans
Iran ‘skirmish’ has no effect on strong US economy, White House advisor claims
The rosy analysis was prompted by the monthly jobs report, which showed the jobless rate for all veterans came down from 4.1% in February to 3.9% in March.

VA severs ties with most federal unions, terminating worker contracts
About 80% of VA's roughly 450,000 employees are union members, but the department will no longer honor its contracts with the bargaining units.

Defense leaders to return Confederate memorial to Arlington Cemetery
The sculpture honoring Confederate fighters and the separatist movement was removed from the miltiary cemetery in 2023, but will be restored soon.

VA to ease authorization rules for some outside care, raising concerns
Officials will extend authorizations for care handled outside the VA system for 30 different medical specialties, a move they say will ease red tape.

VA leaders move to end all abortions at department medical sites
Abortion services had been offered at VA facilities since late 2022, even in some states where the procedures were outlawed. Now that will end.

Senate confirms new top Navy leader, vice chief for Space Force
Adm. Daryl Caudle, who has been the commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command since 2021, was approved as the next chief of naval operations.

Senate confirms senior VA advisor to become next department watchdog
The incoming VA Inspector General, Cheryl Mason, worked for several months alongside the senior VA leaders she will now be charged with investigating.

After delay, Senate confirms Sam Brown to lead VA memorial affairs
The combat-wounded veteran and former Senate hopeful will oversee operations at hundreds of VA cemeteries and memorial sites.

Advocates worry new White House order on homelessness could hurt vets
A White House plan would make it easier for local officials to force homeless veterans off the streets and into medical or criminal institutions.

Work on annual defense authorization bill will wait until September
Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of July 28, 2025.
