BRIDGE Act of 2026

More transition help for military families

If enacted, the bill would direct the Defense Department to set up a nonclinical, community-based pilot within 180 days. It would run for three years at four geographically diverse military installations, including one on the West Coast, Midwest, East Coast, and one outside the United States where practicable. Active-duty members within one year of separation and their families would be eligible, with priority for those facing accelerated or involuntary separations. Participating groups would provide a dedicated transition coordinator, a personalized transition roadmap, peer support, job and skills help for spouses, benefits navigation, and community connections for one year after separation. The DoD and VA would coordinate the handoff, participant outcomes would be tracked up to 36 months, and DoD would report results to Congress within 180 days after the pilot ends.