Trump to hand out $2.6B in ‘warrior dividends’ — and the surprising pot he’s pulling the money from
President Donald Trump told Americans this week that 1.45 million U.S. service members would receive a one-time $1,776 "warrior dividend," a $2.6 billion initiative he said would hit service members’...
By Fox News · Fox News
President Donald Trump told Americans this week that 1.45 million U.S. service members would receive a one-time $1,776 "warrior dividend," a $2.6 billion initiative he said would hit service members’ bank accounts before Christmas. The president credited tariffs for bringing in money. "We made a lot more money than anybody thought because of tariffs, and the bill helped us along. Nobody deserves it more than our military , and I say congratulations to everybody," Trump said Wednesday. A senior administration official told Fox News Digital the president had directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to offer the money as a one-time supplement to the basic allowance for housing for all active duty service members pay grades O-6 and below — colonel for the Army, Air Force and Marine Corps and captain rank in the Navy. Reservists ranked O-6 and below are eligible for the checks if they have been on active-duty orders for 31 days or more as of Nov. 30. Approximately 1.28 million Active Component military members and 174,000 Reserve Component military members will receive this supplement. VA TO RESTORE EDUCATION BENEFITS ELIGIBILITY TO VETERANS OUSTED UNDER BIDEN-ERA COVID VACCINE MANDATE The money comes from $2.9 billion that Congress appropriated in the "big beautiful bill" to the Department of War to supplement the Basic Allowance for Housing entitlement. The payment, according to the official, "exemplifies the Department’s ongoing commitment to improving the housing and quality of life for our military members and their families." Additionally, the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorized a 3.8% raise for basic military pay for all service members in 2026. CONGRESS MOVES TO BLOCK PENTAGON FROM CUTTING US TROOPS IN EUROPE AND SOUTH KOREA The annual defense policy bill also includes a suite of quality-of-life enhancements designed to support service members and their families. Lawmakers authorized a 60% increase in the Family Separation Allowance, raising…