Gillibrand Announces Pay Raise For Service Members, Expanded Eligibility For Department Of Defense Food Security Program

Gillibrand Announces Pay Raise For Service Members, Expanded Eligibility For Department Of Defense Food Security Program

Dec 11, 2024

FY2025 NDAA includes a 4.5% pay raise for all troops, additional 10% pay raise for junior enlisted service members

NDAA also expands eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance, the DoD's program to address food insecurity for service members

Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chair of the Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, announced several provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025 that will increase pay and benefits for service members.

"Our troops are the armed services' greatest asset, and they deserve fair pay and good benefits," said Senator Gillibrand. "That's why I'm pleased to announce that this year's NDAA includes provisions that will significantly increase pay for troops and combat food insecurity among service members. I'm proud to have fought hard to secure these wins, and I will continue working to ensure that our nation's service members have the resources they need to provide for their families and put food on their tables."

Specifically, the FY2025 NDAA contains a 4.5 percent pay increase for all service members, as well as an additional 10 percent increase for junior enlisted service members in the ranks of E1 through E4.

The bill also expands eligibility for the Department of Defense's (DoD) Basic Needs Allowance (BNA), which is a supplemental monthly payment for qualifying service members that is intended to address food insecurity in the military. This year's NDAA increases the eligibility threshold to participate in the BNA program from 150 percent of the federal poverty line (FPL) to 200 percent. This change will help service members and their families afford groceries and other basic household necessities.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Gillibrand has long advocated to increase pay and benefits for service members. Last year, Senator Gillibrand successfully pushed the department to accelerate the prior increase in BNA eligibility from 130 percent of the FPL to 150 percent of the FPL. This year, she worked to support the increase to 200 percent. She has also supported efforts to exclude service members' Basic Allowance for Housing from the eligibility calculation for both BNA and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).