Newsbytes January 30, 2026

In this issue:
Coast Guard in Limbo 
Veterans Win on Toxic Exposure
TRICARE Waives Pharmacy Copayments 
VA's Community Care Under Scrutiny
Senate Examines VA RISE Initiative
VA Delays Annual Suicide Report 

Coast Guard in Limbo 
The Senate reached a deal on Thursday night to fund most of the federal government, but the agreement leaves the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the U.S. Coast Guard, operating under a short-term continuing resolution through February 13. While five major funding bills were packaged together and advanced as full year measures, lawmakers opted to split DHS funding from the broader package amid ongoing political disputes. As a result, roughly ninety six percent of the government would be funded for fiscal year 2026, while the Coast Guard remains vulnerable to uncertainty and potential disruption. 

For the Coast Guard, funding instability carries unique risks. As the only military service housed within DHS, the Coast Guard is often disproportionately affected during funding lapses. During last year’s prolonged shutdown, Coast Guard members were required to continue operations without pay, placing significant financial strain on service members and their families. Missed paychecks forced some to rely on emergency assistance, delay rent or mortgage payments, and seek short-term loans, even as they continued critical missions including search and rescue, maritime security, and drug interdiction. The ripple effects of that shutdown were felt long after funding was restored. 

Although the current Senate deal is intended to prevent an immediate full shutdown, the short term DHS extension provides little stability for Coast Guard personnel. If the House fails to act quickly or demands changes, even a brief lapse in funding could once again delay pay for Coast Guard members. Civilian employees who support Coast Guard operations could also face furloughs, compounding operational and administrative challenges across the service. For families already navigating high costs of living and frequent relocations, repeated funding uncertainty undermines morale and readiness. 

The Fleet Reserve Association strongly urges Congress to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. FRA calls for clean, full year funding for the Coast Guard that reflects its expanding mission set and growing operational demands. FRA also continues to advocate for passage of the Pay Our Troops Act to guarantee that all uniformed service members, including the Coast Guard, receive uninterrupted pay during any future funding lapse. No service member should be asked to serve without the assurance that their family will be financially secure. 

With DHS funding once again on a compressed timeline, lawmakers have only a narrow window to deliver lasting stability. FRA will continue pressing Congress to act responsibly by fully funding the Coast Guard and protecting the pay and well being of those who stand the watch. Funding the government on time is not just a budgeting exercise, it is a commitment to the men and women who safeguard the nation every day. 

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Veterans Win on Toxic Exposure
Gulf War veterans have secured a significant victory in their long-running effort to uncover the truth about toxic exposures linked to Gulf War Illness. The Department of War has formally agreed to revise its public guidance to acknowledge that affected service members were likely exposed to chemical agents during the 1990 to 1991 conflict, marking a notable shift from years of more cautious language. 

At the center of the announcement is the demolition of Iraqi ammunition storage sites at Khamisiyah in March 1991, an event long believed to have released nerve agents into the atmosphere. While a 2002 DOW report concluded that roughly 100,000 veterans were likely exposed to low levels of sarin and cyclosarin, many affected veterans later received letters stating they may have been exposed. Under the new commitment, DOD will correct that discrepancy by updating official Military Health System and environmental exposure websites to clearly state that veterans were likely exposed and allow those documents to be accessed and downloaded directly. 

The department also agreed to restore previously declassified Gulf War era documents that were removed or became inaccessible over time and to actively search for additional classified materials related to Khamisiyah that could be eligible for declassification. These records may prove critical for ongoing medical research and for veterans seeking to document service-related exposures. DOW additionally committed to reviewing Gulf War Illness research efforts, an important step given the continued prevalence of unexplained symptoms among Gulf War veterans decades after the conflict. 

For Gulf War veterans, this development carries real practical implications. Updated exposure language and restored documentation can strengthen disability claims, particularly for veterans who were previously denied benefits due to insufficient exposure evidence. Veterans experiencing symptoms associated with Gulf War Illness are encouraged to monitor DOW and VA exposure websites for the updated Khamisiyah materials, retain copies of relevant records, and consult with accredited veterans service officers when filing new claims or appealing past decisions. Veterans may also seek evaluation and care through the VA, which has stated it continues to consider chemical weapons exposure when diagnosing and treating Gulf War Illness. 

The Fleet Reserve Association welcomes this step toward long overdue transparency and accountability. Clear acknowledgment of likely exposure is essential to ensuring Gulf War veterans receive timely health care, accurate diagnoses, and the benefits they have earned through service. FRA will continue to advocate for full disclosure of exposure records, sustained research funding, and policies that remove unnecessary barriers for veterans suffering from toxic exposure related illnesses. 

TRICARE Waives Pharmacy Copayments 
Active duty family members enrolled in TRICARE Prime Remote in the United States will soon see meaningful relief at the pharmacy counter. Beginning Feb. 28, 2026, pharmacy copayments will be fully waived for covered prescriptions filled at retail network pharmacies or through TRICARE Pharmacy Home Delivery. The change applies automatically and requires no action from beneficiaries. 

TRICARE Prime Remote is designed for families who live far from military hospitals or clinics, often leaving them without access to military pharmacies. Defense Health Agency officials say the new policy is intended to close that gap and reduce out of pocket costs for families who already face geographic challenges accessing care. Active duty service members already receive prescriptions at no cost, but this update extends similar relief to their enrolled family members. 

The copayment waiver applies to all covered prescriptions, including generic, brand name, and non formulary drugs, as long as program requirements are met. Families using non formulary medications must still obtain medical necessity approval from Express Scripts. Without that approval, beneficiaries would be responsible for the full cost of the medication. Other standard pharmacy rules, such as prior authorization requirements, remain unchanged. 

Families who take certain maintenance medications should note that TRICARE rules requiring use of home delivery for long term prescriptions are still in effect. These prescriptions may only be filled twice at a retail network pharmacy. On the third refill, beneficiaries would be responsible for the full cost if they do not transition to home delivery. Non covered drugs are also excluded from the waiver and remain the responsibility of the beneficiary. 

The Fleet Reserve Association supports this update as a practical improvement that directly supports military families living in remote areas. By eliminating pharmacy copayments for TRICARE Prime Remote families, the Department of War is reducing financial strain and improving access to essential medications. FRA encourages eligible families to review their pharmacy options and ensure their prescriptions are filled through TRICARE network pharmacies to fully benefit from this change. 

VA's Community Care Under Scrutiny
The House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held an oversight hearing to examine the Department of Veterans Affairs’ proposed Community Care Network Next Generation contract, a sweeping overhaul of how VA purchases private sector health care for veterans. The ten year contract could carry a total value approaching one trillion dollars and would govern care provided outside VA facilities when veterans cannot receive timely or specialized treatment in house. Community care has become a core part of VA health delivery, now accounting for more than forty percent of all VA medical appointments. 

VA officials described CCN Next Generation as a major modernization effort intended to fix longstanding problems with access, quality, and cost control. Unlike the current regional model that relies on a limited number of contractors, the new structure would allow multiple national and regional health plans to compete for work over time. VA argues this approach would give the department flexibility to remove poor performers, encourage innovation, and better manage care through quality standards, value based payments, utilization controls, and stronger fraud prevention. VA estimates these changes could reduce costs by billions over the life of the contract. 

Committee members from both parties raised serious questions about whether VA has the staffing and oversight capacity to manage a contract of this scale. Some lawmakers expressed concern that community care spending has grown far faster than the number of veterans using it, raising fears of unchecked cost growth and erosion of VA’s direct care system. Others warned that without strong safeguards, contractors could prioritize profit over veteran needs, including steering care to affiliated providers or limiting access to necessary services. 

Supporters of the proposal argued that CCN Next Generation would enhance veteran choice, particularly for those in rural or underserved areas, and better align incentives for quality and timely care. They emphasized that many veterans report high satisfaction with community care options and that competition could improve performance. Critics countered that VA must do more to ensure community providers are trained to meet veteran specific needs and that medical records and care coordination remain seamless between VA and private providers. 

For veterans, the proposal does not change eligibility or benefits and would not affect access to VA care in the near term. Instead, it focuses on how VA manages and pays for community care when it is needed. The Fleet Reserve Association stresses that community care must supplement, not weaken, VA’s direct care system and that rigorous oversight is essential to protect both veterans and taxpayers. FRA will continue to monitor this process closely as Congress conducts further hearings to ensure any changes truly improve access, quality, and outcomes for veterans. 

Senate Examines VA RISE Initiative
The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a hearing to examine the Department of Veterans Affairs’ Restructure for Impact and Sustainability Effort, known as RISE, the most significant reorganization of the Veterans Health Administration in decades. VA Secretary Doug Collins and senior health leaders testified that the initiative is designed to reduce bureaucracy, improve accountability, and better align resources with veteran needs as the department adapts to shifting demographics and rising demand. Implementation is expected to occur in phases over the next two years.

Under the RISE plan, VA would consolidate its Veterans Integrated Service Networks from 18 to five larger regions focused on strategy, governance, and oversight. A new layer of Health Service Areas would be created beneath those regions to provide day to day operational support to medical centers and clinics, resolve issues more quickly, and improve engagement with local veterans and community partners. VA emphasized that no structural changes are planned at the facility level and that the reorganization targets administrative and oversight functions rather than direct care delivery.

VA leaders argued the changes would lead to faster and more consistent policy implementation, reduce internal silos, and empower local facility leaders to respond more effectively to veteran needs. They also highlighted efforts to realign the workforce through attrition rather than layoffs, shifting staff to high growth areas and tying staffing levels to validated requirements. According to VA, this approach would improve access and sustainability while addressing long standing concerns raised by inspectors and auditors over unclear roles and weak accountability.

Senators from both parties raised concerns about the risks of such a large scale transition. Lawmakers questioned whether staffing caps and vacancy reductions could worsen shortages, particularly in mental health and in regions experiencing rapid veteran population growth. Others warned that consolidating regions could reduce responsiveness to unique local needs and that workforce uncertainty could harm morale and continuity of care. Several senators also pressed VA for greater transparency and faster responses to congressional requests for data.

For veterans, the RISE initiative does not change eligibility, benefits, or access to VA health care in the near term. Instead, it focuses on how VA organizes and manages its health system. The Fleet Reserve Association stresses that any reorganization must strengthen, not disrupt, timely access and quality of care. FRA will closely monitor implementation and continue engaging with VA and Congress to ensure promised safeguards are met and that veterans remain the central focus as this restructuring moves forward.

VA Delays Annual Suicide Report 
During the same hearing on VA Rise Initiative, lawmakers sharply questioned Department of Veterans Affairs leadership over a delayed release of the VA’s annual veterans suicide report, an in-depth analysis of suicide trends that is typically issued each December. The report, which was completed in September, has been held up and is now expected to be released in February after lawmakers publicly pressed VA Secretary Doug Collins for an explanation. Senators emphasized that accurate and timely suicide data is critical to shaping effective prevention programs and allocating resources for veterans’ mental health care, particularly as veterans remain roughly one and a half times more likely to die by suicide than non-veterans. Committee members also cited reports of long wait times for mental health appointments, highlighting ongoing concern about access to care.

VA acknowledged that last year’s federal government shutdown disrupted work on the report, though senators noted the document was complete before the funding lapse began, raising questions about internal decision making and transparency. The delay arrives against a backdrop of heightened attention to veteran mental health needs and workforce challenges within VA facilities, which advocates say must be addressed to prevent further loss of life. The Fleet Reserve Association stresses that uninterrupted reporting and robust mental health resources are essential to prevent veteran suicide and ensure that policy decisions are informed by the best available data.