Newsbytes November 14, 2025 

In this issue:
25'-26' FRA BoD
Government Shutdown Ends!
FRA Observes Veterans Day
VA Secretary Pledges Continued Improvements 
2026 Military Construction and VA Funding

25'-26' FRA BoD

Government Shutdown Ends!
President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan funding bill Wednesday, ending the longest U.S. government shutdown in history after 43 days of partisan gridlock. The deal, passed by the House 222-209 and the Senate 60-40, extends most federal operations through January 30, 2026, and provides full-year funding for Veterans Affairs, military construction, agriculture, and the legislative branch. Active-duty servicemembers will receive retroactive pay within days, while veterans’ core benefits, never interrupted, now operate under guaranteed 2026 funding. 

The impasse began October 1 over Democratic demands to extend expiring Affordable Care Act subsidies for 24 million Americans. Senate Democrats filibustered 14 Republican continuing resolutions before a bipartisan group, led by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine), forged a compromise. Democrats dropped the ACA demand in exchange for a “minibus” funding package and back-pay guarantees for all federal workers. Trump, who called it the “Democrat shutdown,” signed the bill in the Oval Office, claiming victory despite conceding on policy riders. 

Active-duty troops,1.3 million strong, worked without paychecks for weeks, relying on food pantries and delayed relocations. The Pentagon furloughed half its 741,000 civilian employees, stalling ship repairs and munitions production. National Guard units faced readiness gaps, and some servicemembers were trapped in service by halted discharge paperwork. The bill ensures lump-sum back pay starting this week, with full military construction projects resuming immediately. 

Veterans experienced minimal disruption, as VA healthcare, disability payments, GI Bill benefits, and the Veterans Crisis Line remained fully operational under mandatory funding. However, regional benefits offices closed, pausing new claims and counseling. Full-year VA funding now locks in stability, allowing backlog processing to resume and protecting PACT Act toxic-exposure expansions despite earlier plans to cut 30,000 staff positions through attrition. 

The shutdown’s end averts immediate crisis but sets up a January showdown over ACA subsidies and Trump’s proposed “DOGE” efficiency cuts. Economists estimate a 0.1-point GDP hit, mostly recoverable. For troops and veterans, the episode exposed vulnerabilities, prompting bipartisan calls to permanently shield military pay from future shutdowns. As federal workers return, the focus shifts to preventing another cliff in 77 days. 

FRA calls on congress to support the Pay Our Troops Act to ensure that all active-duty and reserve personnel continue to receive their pay during a lapse in government funding. Our troops deserve stability and respect, not uncertainty, while serving our country. 

Support The Pay Our Troops Act: bit.ly/4pLwBtD 

FRA Observes Veterans Day
On Veterans Day morning, Jr. National President Maria Behm and Past National Chaplain Robert Behm attended a breakfast hosted by U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins at Patton Hall. Later, they attended the major ceremony at the Memorial Amphitheater in Arlington National Cemetery alongside National President Rick Fetro, NED Donna Jansky, DLP Theo Lawson and members of Branch 4 and Branch 181. 

During the ceremony, NP Rick Fetro and PNPJr Maria Behm laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, honoring the nation’s fallen in a solemn tribute. Following the official program, the group attended a reception hosted by AMVETS at the Women’s Memorial. PNED Phillip Reid and members of Branch 181 also represented the organization at the Navy Memorial observance. 

In his address at Arlington, President Donald Trump stated: 

“Today to every veteran, we love our veterans, we say the words too often left unsaid: thank you for your service. And thank you very much. And we want to also say thank you for carrying America’s fate on your strong, very broad, proud shoulders.” 

He added: 

“We love you. We salute you. And we will never forget what you have done to keep America safe, sovereign and free.” 

Vice President J.D. Vance also delivered remarks honoring the nation’s servicemembers, saying: 

“Whether you gave a little bit or whether you gave a lot, every single person who put on the uniform of this nation deserves our gratitude on this day especially, but every day. To our nation’s veterans, thank you for your service, thank you for your sacrifice, and thank you for making us proud every single day.” 

He continued: 

“The most important natural resource that we have is that we have hundreds of thousands of young people every single month who sign up to put on the uniform and risk their lives for their fellow citizens.” 

The day’s events highlighted the unity between national leadership and local branches in honoring service and reaffirming the enduring commitment to America’s veterans. From the VA Secretary’s breakfast to the wreath-laying and concluding receptions, the message was clear: the nation stands in gratitude to all who have served. 

VA Secretary Pledges Continued Improvements 
Ahead of Veterans Day, VA Secretary Doug Collins reaffirmed the department’s commitment to strengthening services for the nation’s veterans, praising their sacrifice and outlining the administration’s progress. “America’s Veterans have made our country – and our military – the greatest in the world,” he said. “Keeping the promises America has made to its Veterans is the sole purpose of the Department of Veterans Affairs.” 

Collins highlighted what he described as major improvements under the second Trump Administration, including a more than 49% reduction in the disability claims backlog since January and a record-setting three million disability claims processed by the end of the fiscal year. He also noted expanded access to care through 20 newly opened clinics and more than 1.4 million appointments offered outside standard business hours to improve convenience for veterans. 

The department reported continued investment in infrastructure, including $800 million dedicated to improving facilities through savings from ongoing reform efforts. Other initiatives include easing access to community care, accelerating the VA electronic health record rollout, and implementing changes designed to streamline survivor benefits after concerns raised in recent years. 

Additionally, VA said it permanently housed 51,936 homeless veterans in fiscal year 2025, the highest total since 2019, while internal reforms brought more employees back to on-site work and redirected funds from recently ended union contracts toward veteran care. Collins said these efforts reflect a broader shift toward making VA a “service organization” focused entirely on veterans’ needs. 

As these reforms continue, the FRA will closely monitor VA policies and regulations to ensure that veterans truly come first. Ongoing oversight remains essential to safeguarding the benefits and services earned by those who served. 

2026 Military Construction and VA Funding
The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2026, has been signed into law, providing a total discretionary allocation of $153.278 billion, including $19.7 billion for military construction and $133.5 billion in non-defense funding. The bill also includes $263.7 billion for mandatory veteran programs such as disability compensation, education benefits, and employment training. This legislation underscores the nation’s commitment to supporting those who have served and ensures continued investment in the well-being of both service members and veterans. 

For veterans, the bill fully funds healthcare programs, mental health services, medical research, and initiatives addressing toxic exposures. It also protects veterans’ privacy by preventing the VA from sharing information with the FBI without judicial consent and supports programs aimed at combating veteran homelessness. The funding includes $3.4 billion for the Veterans Electronic Health Record Modernization program, improving care coordination and patient experience across the VA system. 

Military families will benefit from over $7 billion for the construction and modernization of military infrastructure, including housing, schools, hospitals, and child development centers. Additional funds support next-generation hangars, naval shipyards, and technology-driven infrastructure to maintain readiness and strengthen national security. 

The Fleet Reserve Association (FRA) welcomes this significant investment and will rigorously monitor its implementation to ensure veterans and service members receive the benefits and care promised. The association emphasizes the importance of accountability in translating funding into tangible improvements for veterans’ health, housing, and overall quality of life.