Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D.-Pa., spoke at a news conference about the cancellation of the 28th annual Bipartisan Women’s Caucus’ annual ceremony honoring fallen servicewomen. (From a post on X)
The number of veterans running for Congress in 2026 is at the highest level since at least 2018, according to a nonprofit that tracks veteran participation in elective government.
With Honor, which describes itself as nonpartisan, tracked 752 veterans registered to run for the House and Senate this year, which is 47% more than in 2024.
The number, which includes incumbents seeking reelection, is the highest number of veterans to seek elective federal office since With Honor began tracking participation eight years ago.
“This is not a red wave or a blue wave — it is a service wave,” said Rye Barcott, a former Marine Corps captain and With Honor’s chief executive officer.
Veterans are running for office in all 50 states, according to With Honor. More than 40% are post-9/11 veterans.
The biggest surge is among women veterans, though their numbers overall are lower compared to men, said Barcott, who also has written a new book, “Courage Can Save Us,” profiling veterans who rose as political leaders.
With Honor identified 95 women registered to compete in congressional races, which is more than double the number from two years ago, according to the organization.
FIFA has partnered with Bank of America and Vet Tix to provide thousands of free tickets to veterans, current military members and first responders who live in or near the 11 cities hosting the FIFA World Cup games, according to the global soccer association.
The number of tickets varies by venue but will be available throughout the series, including 250 set aside for the U.S. Men’s national team matches, in honor of America’s 250th anniversary, according to Bank of America.
Bank of America donated $2 million to acquire tickets across all stages of the tournament, in support of the giveaway, according to the sponsors.
Honorably discharged veterans and currently serving service members who are interested in obtaining tickets must first sign up at the Vet Tix website (vettix.org). Eligibility is verified through ID.me.
“We are deeply grateful to partner with Bank of America and FIFA to help make 4,547 FIFA World Cup tickets available to the veteran, military and first responder communities we proudly serve,” said Michael A. Focareto, a Navy veteran and founder of Vet Tix.
There is no charge to register for the chance to receive the tickets, according to sponsors.
Vet Tix is a national nonprofit that provides free passes to events for service members, honorably discharged veterans and immediate families of troops killed in action, according to the organization.
A yearly event to honor fallen servicewomen that was scheduled for Wednesday was canceled after the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Space Force declined to participate or did not respond to an invitation.
The office of Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., announced Wednesday that the annual Bipartisan Women’s Caucus’ ceremony, now in its 28th year, was formally called off for lack of representation by the service branches.
Houlahan served for 16 years in the Air Force and rose to the rank of captain. She spoke at a news conference on Capitol Hill to protest the cancellation.
The ceremony is typically held at Arlington National Cemetery, according to organizers.
The news site Task & Purpose reported that the Navy, Air Force and Space Force declined to attend because of policies discouraging diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
The Army cited scheduling conflicts, and the Marine Corps did not respond, Task & Purpose reported.
Following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump that ordered agencies in the federal government to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs, the Defense Department directed the armed services not to use official resources for programs that promote “cultural awareness.”
State attorneys general, along with the Department of Veterans Affairs, are warning veterans about a scam involving official-looking postcards stamped in block letters with the official-sounding name, “Veteran Savings Program.” (North Carolina Attorney General, Department of Justice)
State attorneys general, along with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C., are issuing warnings about a widespread scam using the postal service to target veterans and their families.
Households are receiving official-looking postcards stamped in block letters on the front with the name: “Veteran Savings Program” and the message, “Do Not Discard.”
The message on the postcards offers to qualify veterans for dental coverage, add bonus money to their disability checks and qualify spouses for financial benefits.
But the “Veterans Savings Program” is a fraudulent attempt to gain access and to steal personal financial information from veterans and their spouses, according to the VA.
“It falsely promises extra monthly payments and pressures recipients to call a toll-free number within five days,” the VA said this week. “The goal is to get you to call the number provided. Once you do, they will often use flattery and praise regarding your military service to gain trust.”
North Carolina, Michigan, Iowa and Pennsylvania are among states that have issued warnings about the mailings, according to the Military Officers Association of America.
Veterans can report suspicious activity to VSAFE.gov or by calling 1-833-38V-SAFE.
Rep. Tom Barrett, R.-Mich., an Army veteran, led a House Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee field hearing at the Grand Ledge Army Aviation Support Facility, in Michigan. (Screenshot)
Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., led a House Veterans’ Affairs subcommittee field hearing Friday at the Grand Ledge Army Aviation Support Facility, in Michigan, to examine efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs to make scheduling doctors’ appointments easier for veterans.
Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Mich., also participated in the hearing of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization, which was hosted by the Michigan Army National Guard.
“I brought the [subcommittee] here today because oversight does not stop in Washington, D.C.,” said Barrett, an Army veteran. “It is important for Congress to hear from veterans, providers and leaders in the communities where they live, where they receive care.”
The hearing focused on new technology — called EPS — that the VA has been piloting to streamline the process for the VA to schedule medical appointments for veterans in the private sector.
“Prior to this pilot, VA staff had to pick up the phone again and again, often calling the veteran and the provider multiple times to schedule a simple appointment,” Barrett said.
EPS technology enables private providers to share their appointment schedules with the VA.
Barrett and Budzinski introduced the Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act, which would expand the EPS program nationwide.
The bill requires the VA to permanently implement a streamlined, single-interface electronic scheduling system.
The bill is included in the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act, a legislation package — introduced this week in the House and Senate — that bundles more than 60 bills for veterans benefits and services.
