 Your weekly advocacy update: Stay informed, take action, and champion the voice of America’s defense credit unions! This week, DCUC led strong advocacy, commending the NCUA Board for approving a streamlined 2026–2027 budget, applauding bipartisan leadership to reintroduce the Central Liquidity Facility (CLF) bill, and welcoming advancement of the NDAA without harmful credit card provisions. DCUC also responded to President Trump’s announcement of a one-time $1,776 “1776 Warrior Bonus” by issuing guidance to help credit unions prepare for member inquiries, deposit activity, liquidity considerations, and fraud awareness, while continuing to advance priorities including fair access to banking, housing affordability, CFPB rulemakings, and credit union modernization. Stay up to speed as we push forward! Follow along with our weekly announcements here. Top Priorities This Past Week DCUC commends the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) Board for approving the agency’s Operating, Capital, and Share Insurance Fund administrative expense budgets for 2026 and 2027. See the NCUA’s official release here. We want to thank the NCUA for implementing a streamlined budget that significantly reduces overall expenses while enhancing financial stability for credit unions nationwide,” says Anthony Hernandez, DCUC President/CEO. This budget reflects a thoughtful and disciplined approach to fiscal stewardship, reducing costs while supporting the core mission of credit union safety and soundness. We are grateful to the NCUA Board for prioritizing efficiency and member impact, and for the leadership shown throughout this process. Read more here. DCUC applauds Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) for reintroducing the CLF bill (S.3575), with updated language that was previously approved by the Senate and included in the Senate-passed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Senators Padilla and Cramer continue to demonstrate outstanding bipartisan leadership by reintroducing the CLF bill with language that has already earned Senate approval,” said Stverak. “We strongly support this legislation and thank both senators for their persistence and dedication to advancing this important policy. This legislation is necessary, timely, and has already demonstrated broad support. DCUC strongly supports S.3575 and looks forward to continued collaboration with lawmakers to ensure its swift enactment. Learn more about DCUC's advocacy on the NCUA's Central Liquidity Facility here. DCUC commended both chambers for advancing the NDAA without any Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) language or Durbin–Marshall amendments, an outcome that safeguards the financial stability of military communities. We [also] extend our sincere appreciation to Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) for their leadership in proposing the inclusion of Central Liquidity Facility (CLF) provisions,” said Stverak. “Although these measures were not incorporated in the final bill, DCUC looks forward to continuing its work with both congressional leaders to ensure this important initiative advances in future legislation. Additional advocacy efforts this week focused on:
Trump Announces $1,776 ‘Warrior Dividend’; DCUC Prepares Credit Unions for Member Inquiries
Following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a one-time $1,776 “1776 Warrior Bonus” for eligible U.S. service members, DCUC has issued guidance to help credit unions prepare for increased member questions and deposit activity.
The Administration has said the payments will be delivered through the military pay system and funded by repurposed military housing assistance dollars. See DCUC's detailed advisory outlining eligibility considerations, potential tax and policy questions, liquidity impacts, and fraud-prevention awareness, and a sample memorandum for credit union leaders to educate and inform their staff. Advocacy Discussions 3 Questions with DCUC’s Anthony Hernandez, featured on CUInsight  CUInsight's President/CEO Greg Michlig is joined by Anthony Hernandez, DCUC President/CEO, for a quick 3-question interview about DCUC’s advocacy, collaboration, and support for credit unions. In this special feature, Hernandez answers the following questions:
DCUC Holds Third Industry-Wide Unity Call, Presses Credit Unions To Align Ahead Of 2026 Policy Fights, featured on CUToday DCUC on Monday convened its third industry-wide meeting of credit union leaders this year, continuing an effort to align the movement around shared advocacy priorities as it prepares for the 2026 policy cycle. Nearly 40 credit union leaders, trade-group executives, and system partners participated in the latest call, which DCUC leaders said was designed to move beyond rhetoric about unity and toward sustained coordination on legislative and regulatory strategy. This was a very productive meeting, Hernandez told CUToday.info following the meeting. Industry leaders from the various national trade associations and leagues had the opportunity to put their concerns and priorities on the table, and we heard from a wide range of voices. No, Deposit Insurance Parity Isn’t a ‘Gift,’ It’s Protection for Main Street, featured on The CUDaily A recent American Banker op-ed by two former community bank CEOs labels the bipartisan Hagerty-Alsobrooks deposit insurance proposal a “gigantic gift” to credit unions. That claim is not only wrong, it’s deliberately misleading. Translating credit union unity into advocacy action on Capitol Hill, featured on Tyfone The credit union movement has never lacked passion. We have never lacked purpose. And when you look at the stakes in front of us—financial readiness for service members, access to affordable credit, protections for member-owned institutions, and the integrity of our tax status—what we cannot afford is fragmentation. Unity is not a slogan. Unity is an operating system. And if we want unity to matter on Capitol Hill, we have to translate it into consistent, disciplined advocacy action—across asset sizes, charter types, geographies, and communities served. That is where outcomes are decided. Special Defense Update Both the House and Senate have passed the NDAA. Chairman Cole of the House Committee on Appropriations continues to advocate for the passage of a minibus bill prior to the end of the calendar year, albeit without funding for the Pentagon in FY26 — negotiations for the Defense bill may slip into 2026, leaving some time for the two chambers to hash out a variety of disagreements prior to the end of the current continuing resolution on January 30th, 2026.
Elsewhere within the Congress, the House Committee on Foreign Affairs held a hearing to examine Hybrid Warfare being waged throughout Europe, the House Homeland Security Committee held a hearing to look at issues pertaining to human trafficking, and the Senate Homeland Security Committee held a hearing to examine GAO recommendations. House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Hearings & Updates The House Armed Services Committee did not hold any hearings this week. Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) Hearings & Updates The Senate Armed Services Committee did not hold any public hearings this week. House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC) Hearings & Updates The House Armed Services Committee held two hearings this week:
Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) Hearings & Updates The Senate Veterans Affairs Committee did not hold any public hearings this week. Pentagon Press · The War Department Unleashes AI on New GenAI.mil Platform · AUKUS Defense Ministers' Meeting Joint Statement · Department of War Releases 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing Rates · Joint Press Statement on the Fifth Nuclear Consultative Group Meeting · Readout of Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's Call With Japanese Defense Minister Shinjirō Koizumi Contractual Updates DoD Contracts for Dec. 12, 2025 DoD Contracts for Dec. 11, 2025 DoD Contracts for Dec. 10, 2025 DoD Contracts for Dec. 9, 2025 DoD Contracts for Dec. 8, 2025 Comments are closed.
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