President Bush on Sept. 30 signed into law H.R. 2638, an omnibus appropriations act for Fiscal 2009, that includes $488 billion for the Department of Defense. Included in its earmarks are $27 billion for Air Force research and development and roughly $19.4 billion for USAF to buy aircraft, missiles, and ammunition. There is also $16 billion for “other” USAF procurement, approximately $43.8 billion for operations and maintenance, and $29.2 billion for Air Force personnel. Bush has yet to sign the defense authorization bill, passed by the House on Sept. 24 and the Senate on Sept. 27.
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…
