S. 2698, the Safeguarding Department of Veterans Affairs Dependent Education Benefits Act of 2025, allows spouses and dependent children of military members to regain Post-9/11 Educational Assistance benefits that were lost when a service member was discharged due to a dependent-abuse offense, such as sexual assault or domestic violence. The bill applies to situations where a military member's discharge was characterized in a way that would normally disqualify them from passing on benefits, but where their spouse or child was the victim of abuse. Eligible victims can apply to have their education benefits reinstated, though they cannot receive more than the unused portion of benefits originally transferred to them, and the application process must be trauma-informed and designed with input from veterans service organizations. The Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and Department of Veterans Affairs must establish procedures to review denied applications and respond to review requests within 30 days. The bill does not include specific new funding allocations, as it reallocates existing educational benefits to eligible victims rather than creating new benefits.
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