On Monday evening, President Donald Trump signed a bill to increase the retirement pensions for Medal of Honor recipients to nearly four times the current amount.
The “Medal of Honor Act” was introduced in the House of Representatives by Republican Texas Congressman Troy Nehls and in the Senate by Republican Texas Senator Ted Cruz. This bill raises the retirement pension for Medal of Honor recipients from the current amount of $16,880.76 per year to approximately $67,000 per year, nearly quadrupling the previous amount.
The White House announced on the social media platform X through the “Rapid Response 47” official account that the bill, which was unanimously passed by Congress earlier this week, has been signed into law by the President.
The Medal of Honor was originally established during the American Civil War and is the highest military honor that can be awarded to members of the U.S. Armed Forces, recognizing extraordinary acts of valor and heroism.
In 1963, Congress legislated the criteria for awarding the Medal of Honor, outlining the core requirement that soldiers must demonstrate “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.”
Typically, the medal is awarded posthumously to those who made the ultimate sacrifice in action. Currently, there are 61 living recipients of the Medal of Honor, most of whom are Vietnam War veterans, with others having served in major military operations in the Middle East in this century.
Following the signing, Nehls praised the President for enacting the legislation, emphasizing the importance of providing economic support to these heroes who continue to serve the nation.
Nehls stated, “Medal of Honor recipients embody the best of our nation. They never seek special recognition or special treatment. Many living Medal of Honor recipients spend most of their time traveling around the country, sharing their stories to inspire the next generation of American heroes.”
“My ‘Medal of Honor Act’, by increasing their special retirement pensions, eases their economic burden — ensuring they know that America is deeply grateful for all they have done to defend the country and uphold freedom.”
“I am immensely grateful to President Trump for signing my bill into law. For these selfless warriors, the least we can do is alleviate some of their financial burdens as they continue to serve this great nation,” Nehls added.
Following Trump’s signing of the bill, Cruz released a video on X expressing that the legislation will provide support to the 61 living Medal of Honor recipients, offering them a small but significant token of recognition for their immense sacrifices.
“These individuals are heroes,” Cruz said. “We see you, we remember you, and we are grateful for you.”
Congress first authorized retirement pensions for Medal of Honor recipients in 1916, starting at $10 per month, equivalent to approximately $300 today.
In 1961, the amount was increased to $100 per month, equivalent to around $1,059 today.
The most recent increase by Congress was in 2002, raising the monthly payment to $1,000. Prior to the passage of the “Medal of Honor Act,” recipients were receiving $1,406.73 per month after cost of living adjustments.
Under the law signed by Trump on Monday, recipients will now receive $5,625 per month in Medal of Honor retirement pensions.