Florida Vets Lose $58.72M Yearly as 54K Veterans Urges Action for 4,078 Combat Injured Retirees

Jacksonville, Florida Jan 1, 2026 (Issuewire.com) Floridas economy is losing more than $58 million a year because the US Senate has not fixed a federal retirement offset that targets combat injured, medically retired veterans, according to new data released by advocates. Advocates say the legislation has stalled following an objection in the US Senate, leaving Florida families financially impacted.

There are 4,078 combat injured, medically retired veterans in Florida currently affected by the offset. Under current law, these veterans, who were retired early due to combat injuries, must waive their Department of Defense retired pay dollar for dollar to receive VA disability compensation.

At a conservative average of $1,200 per month in lost retired pay per veteran, Florida loses approximately $4,893,600 in economic activity every single month. That totals $58,723,200 per year, money that should be supporting Florida mortgages, grocery stores, and small businesses.

This isnt just a line item in a budget, said Senior Chief Shane Junkert, USN (Ret.), a decorated combat veteran leading the advocacy campaign. This is $300 a week that 4,078 Florida families earned through service and sacrifice, which the Senate is refusing to pay them.

Recent media coverage

A Mississippi news report has covered Mississippi Sen. Roger Wickers objection and the billboard campaign calling attention to the stalled legislation.

https://youtu.be/zMYuPw4ELTA?si=26FSOF5n0MsQeuEF

Florida is not just another state on the list. It is a backbone of Americas global military reach. Home to US Central Command and US Special Operations Command at MacDill Air Force Base, as well as key hubs like Eglin Air Force Base, Hurlburt Field, and Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida trains and houses some of the nations highest tempo warfighters.

Many of the 4,078 veterans affected by this offset are the same special operators, aviators, and sailors who deployed from Florida bases to execute the nations most dangerous missions. They returned home with combat injuries that ended their careers early, only to find the government they served is stripping away their earned retirement pay.

Florida commands the wars, but when our troops come home broken, the Senate treats their retirement like a luxury item we cannot afford, Junkert said. These are men and women who served in the highest tempo units in the military. To tell them $58 million is too expensive while Washington passes massive defense spending bills is an insult to every service member in this state.

In 2021, Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker publicly described himself as a cosponsor of the Major Richard Star Act in a Memorial Day column, calling the fix a commonsense way to correct an injustice for combat injured retirees.

Next legislative steps

Florida Senators Rick Scott and Ashley Moody are being urged to publicly support S.Amdt. 4056 as the vehicle to carry the Major Richard Star Act language in the defense funding process.

Florida has one of the largest veteran populations in the country, Junkert said. When you cut their retirement, you hurt the entire state. Floridas Senators have to fight for that $58 million, not sit quietly while it is taken away.

About 54KVeterans.org
54KVeterans.org is a grassroots coalition of combat injured veterans dedicated to passing the Major Richard Star Act to end the Chapter 61 retirement offset for eligible combat injured medical retirees.