Newsbytes March 21, 2025 

In this Issue:
Military Families Face Key Health Care Deadlines by March 31
The 2025 National Veterans Day Poster Contest 
DOD to Cut $580 Million in Spending
Veterans Affairs Secretary Defends Workforce Cuts 
VA to phase out treatment for gender dysphoria

Military Families Face Key Health Care Deadlines by March 31
Military families have until March 31, 2025, to address four critical healthcare deadlines that could affect their coverage and costs, according to the Department of Defense (DoD). These deadlines, detailed in a recent Military Times report, involve new benefits and administrative updates primarily for active-duty service members and some Tricare beneficiaries. With less than two weeks remaining, understanding these changes is essential for maintaining healthcare access and maximizing benefits.

First, active-duty service members can enroll in a new Health Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) during a special enrollment period ending March 31, 2025. This pretax savings account allows contributions between $100 and $3,300 annually to cover out-of-pocket expenses like copays, braces, or glasses—items not fully covered by Tricare. For active-duty troops, this could reduce taxable income and save an average of 30% on eligible costs, though unused funds above $640 are forfeited if not carried over via reenrollment. Retirees are not eligible for this benefit.

Second, Tricare West Region beneficiaries must update payment information with the new contractor, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, by March 31, 2025. This applies to those in plans like Tricare Prime or Tricare Select who pay via bank transfer, credit, or debit card, including families in six states recently shifted to the West Region: Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wisconsin. Active-duty families and retirees who pay by allotment should see automatic transfers, but officials urge checking pay statements due to reported glitches. Missing this deadline risks coverage disruptions.

Third, a temporary referral waiver for Tricare West Prime beneficiaries ends March 31, 2025. Since January 1, this waiver has allowed specialty care access without prior approval amid TriWest transition issues. After March 31, active-duty families and retirees in this region must resume obtaining referrals, except for certain inpatient or specialized care like autism services. This shift could slow access to specialists if not managed proactively.

Finally, beneficiaries eligible for both Tricare and the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) must enroll or adjust coverage by March 31, 2025, due to an extended deadline tied to the special enrollment period. This affects active-duty families, retirees, and some reservists seeking additional dental or vision benefits beyond Tricare. Missing this cutoff means waiting until the next open season, potentially leaving gaps in coverage.

Key deadlines and impacts:

Military families should act before March 31, 2025, via fsafeds.gov for FSAs or tricare.mil/west for TriWest updates, ensuring uninterrupted healthcare support.

The 2025 National Veterans Day Poster Contest 
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is inviting artists to participate in the 2025 National Veterans Day Poster Contest. This annual competition seeks artwork that honors and celebrates the service of American veterans. The winning design will serve as the official Veterans Day poster, distributed nationwide to VA facilities, military installations, and various communities. 

Last year, the Fleet Reserve Association hosted Veterans Day and selected the motto "Loyalty and Service" to commemorate the occasion. 

Artists are encouraged to create a visually striking design that captures the spirit of Veterans Day. Submissions will be judged on originality, clarity of message, and artistic merit. 

Steps to Submit an Entry 

Understand the Theme: Ensure your artwork reflects the designated theme for the 2025 Veterans Day celebration. 

Create Original Artwork: Develop a unique design that embodies the theme and honors Veterans. 

Prepare Digital Files: Save your artwork in an electronic format suitable for submission. 

Submit Your Entry: Email your digital artwork to vetsday@va.gov by 11:59 p.m. (EDT) on May 2, 2025. 

Include Required Information: In your submission email, provide your name, address, phone number, and a brief description of your artwork. 

Await Notification: The winning design will be distributed to VA facilities, military installations, and across cities and towns nationwide. 

For more details, visit the official announcement: news.va.gov 

 
DOD to Cut $580 Million in Spending
The Department of Defense (DoD) announced on March 20, 2025, that it will cut $580 million in spending by terminating contracts, programs, and grants deemed wasteful or misaligned with current priorities. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed a memo enacting the cuts, part of a broader effort to enhance efficiency and redirect funds to critical warfighter needs. This follows weeks of reductions totaling $800 million, with Hegseth signaling more cuts to come as the DoD collaborates with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

The cuts target outdated programs and external consulting contracts, such as $30 million in deals with firms like Gartner and McKinsey, but specific details on affected areas remain limited. For active-duty personnel, this could mean shifts in resource allocation, potentially impacting non-essential support services or delayed upgrades to equipment and facilities. However, Hegseth emphasized that warfighting priorities will be safeguarded, suggesting core operational capabilities should remain intact.

Retirees are unlikely to see direct changes to benefits like healthcare or pensions, as the cuts focus on programmatic spending rather than veteran entitlements. The DoD’s commitment to maintaining essential services aligns with recent VA assurances that earned benefits persist despite workforce reductions. Still, long-term effects on service quality or infrastructure could emerge if savings aren’t reinvested effectively.

The Fleet Reserve Association will continue to monitor these budget changes to ensure military personnel and their families are not negatively impacted.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Defends Workforce Cuts 
In an interview with WTOP, U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins addressed the growing concerns surrounding the Trump administration’s decision to implement sweeping federal cuts, which could result in the layoff of around 80,000 employees from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Veterans make up over 25% of the VA workforce, making these potential layoffs particularly significant for the veteran community. Collins defended the cuts, stating that they are necessary to reduce government spending and improve overall efficiency. However, veterans' advocacy groups and lawmakers have expressed concerns over the broader impact these cuts could have on veterans and VA services. 

During the interview, Collins acknowledged that many veterans employed by the federal government have already been affected by the cuts. He noted that about 30% of all federal employees have served in the military, highlighting the importance of veterans in federal service. While he admitted that the layoffs put some veterans in a "difficult" position, he encouraged them to explore opportunities in the private sector, describing it as an opportunity for growth. Collins praised veterans for their high performance and resilience, stating that the private sector needs "high performers" like veterans. 

Despite the layoffs, Collins reassured the public that veterans would not lose any of the benefits they earned through their service. He emphasized that while veterans may no longer be employed by the federal government, their benefits would remain intact. He reiterated that the VA is not an employment service, but a service organization dedicated to providing veterans with necessary support, even as it undergoes internal restructuring. Collins explained that the goal of the cuts is to reduce bureaucracy within the VA, particularly focusing on career employees and the management structure. 

One of the most pressing concerns raised by veterans and lawmakers alike is the potential increase in wait times for veterans seeking medical care. Although Collins admitted that the department's budget has increased in recent years, he acknowledged that wait times have also gone up. He suggested that addressing these challenges may require improved processes and better technology, rather than simply increasing funding or hiring more personnel. This approach, Collins argued, could streamline VA services and ultimately benefit veterans. 

In response to these developments, the Fleet Reserve Association has raised concerns about the potential impact these cuts could have on the quality of VA services. The FRA has sent a letter of inquiry to Congress, requesting a thorough examination of the scope of the proposed layoffs and their potential effects on veterans' access to quality care. The organization hopes to ensure that any changes made to the VA workforce will not compromise the services that veterans depend on. 
 

VA to phase out treatment for gender dysphoria
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced on March 17, 2025, that it will phase out medical treatments for gender dysphoria. This policy shift aligns with a recent executive order from President Donald Trump titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” which defines sex as strictly male or female. The VA, led by Secretary Doug Collins, emphasized that this change will redirect resources to support severely injured veterans, such as those with paralysis or amputations, while continuing care for those already receiving gender dysphoria treatments. This decision marks a significant shift in VA healthcare policy, affecting a small but notable portion of its 9 million enrolled veterans. 

Under the new policy, the VA will no longer offer cross-sex hormone therapy to veterans newly diagnosed with gender dysphoria unless they were already receiving such care through the VA or the military prior to separation and are eligible for VA health benefits. The department clarified that it has never provided gender-affirming surgeries, but it will now also cease all other medical or surgical interventions for gender dysphoria in any circumstance. Veterans currently on hormone therapy through the VA—estimated to be fewer than 0.1% of enrollees, or roughly 9,100 individuals—will not see their treatment disrupted. The VA stressed that all eligible veterans, including those who identify as transgender, remain welcome to access other healthcare services unrelated to gender dysphoria. 

The rationale behind this change, according to the VA, is twofold: compliance with the executive order and a reallocation of resources. The executive order asserts that sex is an unchangeable biological reality, prompting federal agencies like the VA to adjust their policies accordingly. Secretary Collins stated that any savings from discontinuing these treatments will be redirected to enhance care for veterans with severe physical injuries, such as amputees or those with mobility challenges, to help them regain independence. While the VA did not disclose specific cost figures for gender dysphoria treatments, the move reflects a broader prioritization of resources within its healthcare system. 

This policy shift follows other recent changes within the VA and the Department of Defense. Just days before the announcement, the Pentagon issued a memo stating that service members diagnosed with gender dysphoria would be processed for separation, reversing previous policies on gender identity in the military. The VA’s decision also rescinds a 2018 directive that had expanded gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy and support services like voice training or prosthetics. Additionally, VA facilities will now designate intimate spaces, such as bathrooms and patient rooms, by biological sex or provide unisex single-person options, aligning with the executive order’s framework. 

The VA’s announcement has sparked varied reactions, but for veterans and their families, the key details are outlined below to provide clarity on this policy change and its implications: 

What’s Changing: The VA is phasing out treatments for gender dysphoria, including hormone therapy, for veterans not already receiving it. 

Who’s Affected: Only veterans newly seeking gender dysphoria treatment; current recipients (about 9,100) can continue care. 

What’s Still Available: All other VA healthcare services remain open to all eligible veterans, including transgender individuals. 

When It Started: The policy took effect immediately on March 17, 2025. 

Next Steps: Veterans with questions should contact their VA healthcare provider for personalized guidance. 

As the VA navigates this transition, its stated commitment is to continue providing benefits and services to all eligible veterans within the bounds of the new federal guidelines.