FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC – December 19, 2025 — The Reserve Organization of America announced today that it is urging President Donald J. Trump to expand eligibility for the “Warrior Dividend.”
In his December 17 address, the President said, “we are sending every soldier $1,776,” and that “the checks are already on the way,” describing a one‑time, tax‑free bonus to honor the nation’s founding and arrive before Christmas.
Eligibility currently applies only to service members in pay grades E‑1 through O‑6 who are on active duty, and to Reserve and National Guard members in the same grades serving on continuous active‑duty orders of 31 days or more as of November 30.
This leaves most of the nearly 800,000 operational Reserve and National Guard warriors excluded, despite their indispensable role in sustaining the Total Force. Dual-status technicians—who continued to serve and support missions during the recent government shutdown without receiving pay—are also not recognized or rewarded under this program.
“Publicly promising universal reward for warriors and then excluding hundreds of thousands undermines credibility,” said retired Army Maj. Gen. John B. Hashem, Executive Director of ROA. “The citizen‑soldier secured America’s independence and is central to our celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. Citizen‑warriors have served in every war since, and they remain essential to the Total Force today. We urge the President to recognize this now—by ensuring parity for the operational Reserve and National Guard.”
The $2.6 billion in funds for the Warrior Dividend were drawn from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119‑21), which appropriated $2.9 billion originally intended to supplement the Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH).
While the Administration’s decision to use these funds for a holiday bonus is welcomed, ROA believes that implementing the ‘Warrior Dividend’ without full Reserve Component parity creates inequitable outcomes, heightens retention risk, and erodes confidence in the coherence of personnel policy.
As the nation approaches its 250th anniversary, it is imperative that we honor the citizen-warriors who secured America’s independence, have fought in every war since, and remain indispensable to the strength and readiness of today’s Total Force.
If the Administration fails to act and correctthis inequity, ROA will turn its focus to Capitol Hill and urge Congress to fill the gap created by this void.
For Contact:
Matthew Schwartzman
Director, Legislation and Military Policy
Reserve Organization of America
mschwartzman@roa.org