The article argues that recent executive overreach and politicization have severely undermined established norms of U.S. civil-military relations. To restore professional standards, the incoming Congress must actively exercise its oversight powers, moving beyond mere criticism to demanding transparency in defense policy and personnel decisions. Key reforms include enforcing meritocratic promotion processes, requiring documented justification for senior officer removals, and preventing the partisan use of the military. These actions are crucial for bolstering public trust and ensuring the military remains a nonpartisan instrument of civilian control.
Veterans’ Participation in Public Programs: Comprehensive Cross-Survey Comparisons with Nonveterans and the Role of VA Disability Compensation
English Summary
The RAND analysis finds that while veteran status itself does not predict lower participation in public programs, receiving VA Disability Compensation (VADC) significantly reduces eligibility and utilization of other assistance programs, particularly those income-based. The study's key evidence demonstrates that VADC benefits create a complex interaction with the broader social safety net because the benefit counts toward eligibility in some programs but not others. This suggests that it is the specific nature and associated income from VADC—rather than simply veteran status—that drives lower participation rates among certain groups of veterans. Policymakers must therefore adjust public assistance rules to account for VADC's unique financial impact, ensuring benefits do not inadvertently create eligibility gaps or disincentives for necessary support.
中文摘要
蘭德（RAND）的分析發現，退伍軍人身份本身並不能預測其參與公共計畫的程度降低；然而，領取《退伍軍人事務部殘障津貼》（VA Disability Compensation, VADC）則顯著地減少了他們獲得其他援助計畫（特別是那些基於收入的計畫）的資格和實際利用率。該研究的主要證據顯示，VADC福利與更廣泛的社會安全網之間存在複雜的互動關係，因為這些福利在某些計畫中計入資格審核，但在另一些計畫中則不計入。這表明，驅動特定退伍軍人群體參與率下降的，並非單純的退伍身份，而是VADC具體的性質及其相關收入所造成的影響。因此，政策制定者必須調整公共援助規則，以充分考量VADC獨特的財務衝擊，確保福利不會無意間造成資格缺口或阻礙他們獲得必要支持的誘因。
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