Trump Signs Medal of Honor Act to Raise Pensions Fourfold

President Trump presents the Medal of Honor. Official White
House photo, public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

President Donald Trump signed the Medal of Honor Act into law on
December 1, 2025, nearly quadrupling the annual special pension paid to
living Medal of Honor recipients — from approximately \$16,880 to
around \$67,500 per year, according to Fox News. The legislation passed
the House and Senate unanimously before reaching the president's desk,
reflecting broad bipartisan agreement on the measure.

The bill was sponsored by Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas. "Medal of Honor
recipients truly embody the best of our nation," Nehls said in a
statement following the signing, per Fox News. The White House described
the legislation as ensuring that recipients are "rightfully
compensated" for their military service.

Who Benefits

As of the signing date, 63 living Medal of Honor recipients were
eligible for the enhanced pension, according to Fox News. The Medal of
Honor is the United States' highest military decoration, awarded by the
president in the name of Congress to members of the armed forces who
distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at
the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.

The previous pension rate of \$16,880 annually had not kept pace with
the cost of living over the years in which it remained unchanged. The
new rate of approximately \$67,500 — a nearly fourfold increase —
represents a structural correction designed to bring the recognition
into closer alignment with the honor it is intended to represent.

A Unanimous Legislative Moment

The unanimous passage of the Medal of Honor Act through both chambers
stands as a rare instance of full bipartisan agreement. At a moment of
sustained political division across most legislative areas, the bill's
path from introduction to signing was notable for its speed and the
absence of opposition, according to Fox News.

The December 1 signing coincided with the early weeks of Trump's second
term in office. For the 63 living recipients and their families, the
change took effect immediately upon signing, with the new pension rate
becoming the applicable standard going forward.

References: Trump Signs Medal of Honor Act to Raise Pensions for America’s Military Heroes