The Struggle to Get Fair Military Pay Raises Passed in Congress
Providing fair pay and benefits for our nation’s service members has long been a bipartisan priority in Congress However, in recent years, passing significant military pay raises has become an uphill battle due to budget constraints and disagreements between the House, Senate, and White House This year’s fight over the 2025 military pay raise in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) illustrates the challenges involved.
After extensive study, the House Armed Services Committee determined that inflation and private sector wage growth had dangerously eroded military pay. They proposed substantial raises, especially for junior enlisted troops who face serious financial struggles. The initial House bill called for a 19.5% raise for E-1 to E-4 ranks and 45% for all other service members
The House pay raise proposal faced immediate pushback. The White House denounced it as too costly, arguing raises should wait until after a 2025 military compensation review. The Senate balked as well, constrained by spending caps. Senators only backed a 5.5% raise for junior enlisted and 4.5% for all others.
Refusing to abandon the fight, a bipartisan group of House lawmakers penned a letter urging their Senate colleagues to reconsider. They highlighted how inflation and minimum wage hikes made military service economically untenable for many young Americans. The letter called it “disheartening” and “concerning” that the Senate disregarded the House plan to rectify pay inadequacies.
After extensive negotiations, the final compromise NDAA provides a monumental, if partial victory. All service members will receive a 4.5% across-the-board raise. Additionally, junior enlisted ranks will get an extra 10% bump in April, equaling 14.5% for E-1 to E-4.
While not reaching the full 19.5% originally sought, the double-digit increase for junior troops still represents a major achievement. With the raise, an E-1’s annual salary will jump from $24,206 to $27,828. Financial relief will surely improve morale, retention and recruiting. As Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) explained, “Our servicemembers do not make enough to live and support their families. This increase changes that.”
Beyond pay, the compromise bill makes progress on other pressing quality-of-life issues like housing, childcare, healthcare access and food insecurity. While imperfect, these gains required tireless effort amid fiscal constraints.
In the end, bipartisan Congressional determination delivered substantial, if incomplete, victories for service member pay and benefits in the 2025 NDAA. Supporting our troops remains a broadly shared priority, but overcoming funding hurdles and inter-branch conflicts to achieve fair compensation remains an ongoing challenge. This year’s hard-fought NDAA compromise provides hope that persistent, cooperative advocacy can still yield incremental military pay enhancements. But much work remains in the fight for adequate pay to sustain recruitment, retention and readiness in our All-Volunteer Force.
$768 billion defense bill passed by House includes pay increase for military members
FAQ
Will the military get a pay raise in 2024?
What is the new military bill for 2024?
Is the military getting a 19.5% pay raise?
Did the house pass a military bill?
What is a military pay raise?
The sweeping legislation authorizes a 5.2% pay raise for members of the military – the largest raise for service members in more than two decades – as part of a wide range of provisions related to service member pay and benefits, housing and childcare.
Will NDAA enact a 15% pay raise?
The committee introduced a bill last month to enact the 15% pay raise. Committee leaders said they planned to include the bill in their NDAA. Meanwhile, by law, all service members are entitled to an annual raise.
Will NDAA increase military pay?
The recommendation from the House Armed Services Committee in its draft version of the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, means the military’s lowest-ranking forces could see a 19.5% pay hike next year if the plan becomes law.
How much will the NDAA raise next year?
The proposed House NDAA that was released Monday includes both the across-the-board raise and the targeted raise for junior enlisted members, meaning E-1s through E-4s would get a 19.5% raise next year, according to the bill text and committee staffers who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the committee.
How important is a 52% pay increase?
“This important legislation not only authorizes a 5.2% pay increase for service members and civilian employees but directly invests in America’s national security and military power projection to meet the challenges of the 21st century,” said Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder during a briefing today.
Should E-1s get a 15% pay raise?
Members of the House Armed Services Committee previously said they wanted to give E-1s through E-4s a 15% pay raise after a bipartisan group of lawmakers empaneled to study military quality-of-life issues found military pay has lagged behind inflation and private-sector pay. The committee introduced a bill last month to enact the 15% pay raise.