Several measures in a recent Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report providing options to reduce federal spending would weaken, or eliminate entirely, specific earned benefits for nearly all members of the uniformed services and veteran communities.

The proposals in this report, if enacted, would cost servicemembers – and their families, survivors, and caregivers – thousands of dollars every year in higher health care costs (including TRICARE For Life fees), reduced retirement and VA disability compensation, and pay and benefit cuts for those in uniform. This is a burden that should not befall those who have served this country.

The report, issued every two years before the beginning of a new Congress, provides a 10-year overview of deficit-reduction measures. However, as with past versions, this year’s report does not consider long-term implications that would result from these potential savings. It also does not take into consideration the impact that cuts would have on the uniformed services community or on national security, thanks to the cuts’ likely effect on military recruitment and retention.

MOAA has identified 14 options from the report which could negatively impact servicemembers and veterans. We will continue to fight for our constituents to help prevent measures like these from being enacted; should any take hold among lawmakers on Capitol Hill, we will mobilize the entire association, our membership, fellow military and veterans service organizations, and our allies to protect the benefits servicemembers have earned.

Below, find more information from the CBO about these proposals. Future articles at MOAA.org and in The MOAA Newsletter will provide more details.

Mandatory Spending

• Introduce enrollment fees in TRICARE For Life
• Introduce minimum out-of-pocket requirements in TRICARE For Life
• Introduce means-testing for eligibility for VA’s disability compensation
• End VA’s individual unemployability payments to disabled veterans at the full retirement age for Social Security
• Reduce VA’s disability benefits for veterans who are older than the full retirement age for Social Security
• Narrow eligibility for VA’s disability compensation by excluding veterans with low disability ratings
• Use an alternative measure of inflation to index Social Security and other mandatory programs

Discretionary Spending

• Reduce DoD’s annual budget
• Cap increases in basic pay for military servicemembers
• Replace some military personnel with civilian employees
• Reduce the basic allowance for housing to 80% of average housing costs
• End enrollment in VA medical care for veterans in priority groups 7 and 8
• Reduce the annual across-the-board adjustment for federal civilian employees’ pay

Revenue Generation

• Include VA’s disability payments in taxable income

MOAA’s Continued Advocacy

As with prior iterations of the CBO deficit-reduction report, it’s the responsibility of MOAA and other advocacy groups to ensure lawmakers understand what these budget options would entail. It is imperative we emphasize how such cuts would damage the all-volunteer force – damage far outweighing any potential savings.

We encourage you to add your voice to this effort, and other MOAA advocacy priorities, by joining our Legislative Action Center. Monitor The MOAA Newsletter and MOAA’s Advocacy News page to learn how your grassroots support can help make a difference for servicemembers and their families.