Georgia Loses $36.6 Million Annually as Senate Inaction Impacts Combat-Injured Veterans

Atlanta, Georgia Jan 1, 2026 (Issuewire.com) Georgia is losing more than $36.5 million annually because the U.S. Senate has not acted to correct a federal retirement offset that affects combat-injured, medically retired veterans, according to data released by veteran advocacy groups. Despite broad bipartisan support, the Major Richard Star Act stalled following an objection in the Senate, leaving thousands of Georgia families financially impacted.

Currently, there are 2,540 combat-injured, medically retired veterans in Georgia affected by the offset. Under federal law, veterans forced into early medical retirement due to combat injuries must waive their Department of Defense retired pay dollar-for-dollar to receive VA disability compensation.

Using a conservative average of $1,200 per month in lost retired pay per veteran, Georgia loses approximately $3,048,000 per month, totaling $36,576,000 annuallymoney that would otherwise support rent, groceries, car payments, and local small businesses across the state.

This isnt just a line item in a budget, said Senior Chief Shane Junkert, USN (Ret.), a decorated combat veteran and six-time deployer leading the 54KVeterans.org advocacy campaign. This is $300 a week that 2,540 Georgia families earned through service and sacrificemoney that should circulate in Georgia communities, not be blocked in Washington.

Recent Media Coverage

WTVA 9 News reported on the backlash facing Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker, whose objection halted the Major Richard Star Act. Coverage highlighted a veteran-led billboard campaign in Mississippi to draw attention to the stalled legislation.

https://youtu.be/zMYuPw4ELTA?si=Fy2EsseWt1ChaRX4

In 2021, Senator Wicker publicly described himself as a cosponsor of the Major Richard Star Act, calling it a commonsense fix for combat-injured retirees who were forced into early medical retirement and lost part of their earned retirement pay.

Legislative Context and Next Steps

Georgia Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are being urged to publicly support S.Amdt. 4056, which would carry the Major Richard Star Act language as part of must-pass defense funding legislation.

Georgia plays a critical role in national defense, housing major Army installations including Fort Moore and the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart. Many of the veterans affected trained, deployed, or served at these bases before returning home with combat injuries.

Georgia trains the soldiers who fight our wars, Junkert said. When they come back injured, the state should be fighting for them. We need Georgia Senators to stand up for that $36.5 million and the families who earned it.

About 54KVeterans.org

54KVeterans.org is a grassroots coalition of combat-injured veterans dedicated to passing the Major Richard Star Act and ending the Chapter 61 retirement offset for eligible combat-injured medical retirees. The organization advocates on behalf of approximately 54,000 veterans nationwide currently affected by the offset.