Just two weeks out from another Recess, Congress has a busy stretch ahead.

On Sunday, the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act text was released. The nearly $900 billion package protects core pay and readiness priorities while withholding a portion of Secretary Hegseth’s travel budget to force deeper oversight of the Trump administration’s recent boat strikes.

House committees will spotlight two issues with direct pocketbook and quality of life stakes for veterans: how CHAMPVA is serving survivors and dependents, and how to better support veteran entrepreneurs as they move from service to startup.

At the same time, national attention honed in on remembrance and reform. Pearl Harbor was marked without any living survivors present in Hawaii, even as descendants and institutions work to preserve their stories. The VA rolled out new access rules for women’s health and highlighted the growing Million Veteran Program, while the Supreme Court weighs a case that could reshape presidential control over federal agencies.

With a busy two weeks ahead, here’s what you need to know.

In this week’s Nimitz Report:

• FY26 NDAA: Oversight for the Pentagon and no IVF provisions

• Remembering Pearl Harbor without Survivors: For the first time ever, there were no survivors present at the Pearl Harbor remembrance ceremony on December 7.

• Presidential Power in the Supreme Court: the Supreme Court may redraw the balance between presidents and independent agencies

WHO’S HAVING EVENTS THIS WEEK?

Wednesday, December 10th

• ⭐ Full Committee Hearing: “From Service to Startup: Empowering Veteran Entrepreneurs,” House Committee on Small Business at 10:00 am. Watch here.

• 👨‍👨‍👦‍👦 Subcommittee Hearing: "Putting Families First: Strengthening CHAMPVA for Survivors and Dependents," House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) Health Subcommittee at 2:15 pm. Watch here.

• 📍Committee Hearing: “Hearing to Consider Pending Legislation,” Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) at 4 pm. Watch here.

NEWS DRIVING THE WEEK

Congressional News

Yesterday, Congressional leaders released the text of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act, a roughly $900 billion defense policy bill that preserves key pay and readiness provisions while adding new oversight of the Trump administration’s controversial boat-strikes campaign. The final compromise withholds a quarter of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s official travel budget until the Pentagon provides unedited footage of strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats to both armed services committees, along with several overdue reports, effectively turning the NDAA into leverage for a deeper review of the September 2 follow-on strike that killed two survivors. Notably, the bill text does not include provisions for IVF coverage for service members.

Looking ahead, the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health will hold an oversight hearing on Wednesday, December 10, at 2:15 pm, “Putting Families First: Strengthening CHAMPVA for Survivors and Dependents,” in 360 Cannon, which will spotlight coverage gaps for survivors who rely on CHAMPVA. That morning, the House Small Business Committee meets at 10:00 am for “From Service to Startup: Empowering Veteran Entrepreneurs” in 2360 Rayburn. Both will be covered in The Nimitz Report.

Veteran News

Sunday, December 7, Americans observed the 84th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, but for the first time in history, no living veterans of the 1941 attack were present at the commemoration in Hawaii. Today, there are only 12 survivors still living — all of them are centenarians. As firsthand witnesses disappear, institutions and descendants have stepped up. Hundreds of oral histories captured by the National Park Service and Library of Congress’s Veterans History Project, along with educational efforts from groups like the Sons and Daughters of Pearl Harbor Survivors, are becoming the primary record of that pivotal day. While the living memory of December 7 is fading, the commitment to remember is carried forward by history-keepers, descendants, and a new generation committed to preserving the legacy.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced on December 4 that women veterans enrolled in VA health care can now schedule gynecology appointments directly with a VA gynecology specialist, no longer needing a referral from a primary care provider. The change is expected to improve access to specialized women’s health care for more than 1 million women veterans in the VA system. According to VA Secretary Doug Collins, the reform reflects a commitment to making the VA “work better” for the veterans it serves.

The Million Veteran Program (MVP), a major health-research initiative from the Department of Veterans Affairs, has now enrolled more than 1.09 million veterans, driven in part by new efforts to recruit women and underrepresented groups. The growth expands the program’s research scope, helping VA scientists better study how genetics, military exposures, and lifestyle affect veteran health. As participation rises, VA hopes the increased data will improve prevention, detection, and treatment of conditions common among veterans. More information about the program can be found here.

National News

The Supreme Court signaled that it may dramatically expand presidential control over federal agencies, a move with sweeping implications for how the executive branch directs regulatory policy. The case challenges the 1935 precedent set by Humphrey’s Executor, which limits the president’s authority to fire leaders of independent agencies without cause. Conservative justices suggested that the current framework creates an unaccountable “fourth branch” of government and frustrates the ability of elected presidents to implement policy through agencies that often act autonomously. Liberal justices countered that overturning the precedent could destabilize longstanding structures governing financial markets, consumer protection, labor relations, and anti-monopoly enforcement.

If the court overturns or weakens the precedent, presidents could gain broad power to remove agency heads who resist their agenda, including at the Federal Trade Commission, Securities and Exchange Commission, and Federal Reserve. Such a shift would accelerate partisan swings in federal policy with each administration and weaken institutional independence intended to preserve market stability and protect consumers. The ruling, expected by mid-2026, would be one of the most consequential administrative-law decisions in decades, reshaping federal governance and offering the White House far greater leverage over agencies that currently operate at arms-length from presidential control.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

FOR FUN

Did you know that the first U.S. Capitol Christmas tree was placed in 1964? This year’s tree is a 53’ Red Fir from Nevada. It is decorated with approximately 5,000 ornaments from its home state!

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