Congress overrules Pentagon plan to limit service members’ G.I. Bill benefits transfer to dependents

Service members with more than 16 years in the military may continue to transfer their G.I. Bill education benefits to their dependents, according to a Navy Personnel Command directive issued Friday.

Congress in the 2020 National Defense Authorization Act killed a plan by the Defense Department to do away with an upper limit for transferring those benefits. However, service members still must have a minimum of six years in the military to transfer their college tuition assistance benefits to a family member. They also must commit to another four years on active duty or in the Selected Reserve.

The Pentagon proposed the 16-year cap, which was scheduled to take effect Sunday, but Congress specifically prohibited the measure in the authorization act, according to the Navy directive. The policy’s cancellation applies to all service branches.

Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., who worked to include that language in this year’s authorization act, said the DOD policy “would have wronged those vets who are willing and able to continue their service” in a statement last month.

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