In 2020, nearly a quarter (24%) of active-duty service members experienced food insecurity, according to the Department of Defense. Feeding America strongly urged Congress to address this pressing issue through updated policies and succeeded in their advocacy at the end of 2024 with the reauthorization of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
Signed into law on December 23, 2024, by President Biden, the NDAA establishes annual policy and spending priorities for the Department of Defense and serves as the vehicle to enact provisions aimed at reducing food insecurity among active-duty service members.
One of the most significant changes in the NDAA was the expansion of the Basic Needs Allowance (BNA), a supplemental monthly payment designed to assist qualifying service members. Previously, service members were eligible for the BNA if their gross household income was at or below 150% of the federal poverty level for their assigned duty station and household size. With improvements to the 2025 NDAA, the threshold was increased to 200%.
Additionally, the NDAA authorizes a 5.2% pay raise for all active-duty service members and a 10% increase for junior enlisted members, both effective April 2025. This raise marks the largest pay raise in 20 years for active-duty service members.
These changes will have a direct impact on food insecurity among active-duty service members as additional income will allow for greater access to nutritious foods, both on and off base.