For military retirees and those soon to leave active duty, the fight continues against budget cuts to the cost of living adjustments in veterans benefits packages.
Representatives from the Pentagon met again with congressmen Jan. 28 to resist cuts to veterans' pension plans. In addition to opposing the cuts outright, acting Deputy Secretary of Defense Christine Fox and Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Adm. James Winnefeld proposed a plan to exempt current retirees and soldiers soon to leave the service from the proposed cuts, Military Times reported. They also argued to the Senate Armed Services Committee that any proposed cuts should only come after an exploratory group within the military had a chance to review the numbers and any effects that may result from proposed cuts.
"Because of the complex nature of military retirement benefits, we recommend that the Congress not make any additional changes in this area until the commission provides its report," Fox said.
The current round of proposed cuts has its roots in a 2011 report by the Defense Business Board that argued the current system of veterans benefits for retired soldiers was too expensive and would eventually hamper the Pentagon's ability to fund military operations.
If not amended, the cuts will go into effect Dec. 1, 2015.