Rumsfeld bristled when one reporter asked for a comment on critics who maintain the war on terrorism limited the ability of the National Guard to repond to this natural disaster at home. His answer: “That’s just flat wrong.” Earlier in the Tuesday briefing, Rumsfeld noted that there are more than 300,000 Guardsmen who are not deployed overseas right now. “They are available for relief and security efforts in the United States, should they be necessary,” he said.
Pentagon Releases Cost of Living, BAH Rates for 2026
Dec. 30, 2025
The Pentagon will pay cost of living allowances to 127,000 service members in the continental U.S. in 2026, an increase of 66,000 members in 2025. Airmen and Guardians across the U.S. will also receive an average increase of 4.2 percent for their Basic Housing Allowance, compared to the 5.4 percent…
