WISER Act of 2025

Discharge Status Upgrades: The Secretary of Veterans Affairs will carry out a program to upgrade the discharge status of covered veterans, treating them as if they completed their assigned duty (Section 2(a)(1), Section 2(a)(3)).

One-time Compensation Benefit: The Secretary of Defense is directed to establish a program providing a one-time compensation benefit of $25,000 to covered veterans (Section 2(b)(1)).

Support for Surviving Spouses: If a covered veteran dies after the Act is enacted, their surviving spouse becomes eligible to participate in the compensation program (Section 2(b)(2)).

Expanded Eligibility Presumptions: Certain veterans are granted an irrebuttable presumption of eligibility if they were involuntarily separated pursuant to Executive Order 10240 (Section 2(c)(1)). Other veterans may benefit from a rebuttable presumption if they gave birth, obtained custody/adoption of a child, or experienced an incomplete pregnancy within a 10-month period following their separation (Section 2(c)(2)).

Funding Dependencies: The discharge status upgrade program is subject to the availability of amounts made available in advance in appropriations Acts (Section 2(a)(1)).

Administrative Requirements: Veterans or surviving spouses must submit applications in specific forms and include information or assurances as determined appropriate by the Secretaries (Section 2(a)(2), Section 2(b)(3)).