President Donald Trump has enacted the “Medal of Honor Act,” which boosts the monthly pension for living recipients of the Medal of Honor significantly.
Since the Medal of Honor was modernized—initially for the Navy in 1861 and later updated for the Army in 1965—around 3,528 individuals have been awarded this esteemed military honor.
Currently, only 61 of these laureates are still alive.
This new legislation, signed into law Monday, benefits Medal of Honor recipients greatly, raising their annual pension from roughly $16,880 to about $67,500—almost a fourfold increase.
The Medal of Honor represents the highest military, naval, and aerial achievement in the U.S. It is awarded to individuals who demonstrate exceptional bravery, often exceeding what is typically expected in combat, according to officials.
Qualities that characterize a Medal of Honor recipient include:
- Extraordinary heroism
- Risking their own life
- Voluntary action
- Engaging in intense combat situations
- Eyewitness confirmations
- Often, acts of self-sacrifice
Interestingly, you don’t have to be an American citizen to be eligible for this honor.
