Protecting Gold Star Spouses Act of 2025

This bill makes sure payments for the Coast Guard’s Retired Serviceman’s Family Protection and Survivor Benefits Plans continue even if Congress hasn’t passed the full yearly budget yet. It lets the government use “as much as needed” each year after 2024 to keep these survivor and spouse benefits going, using the same rules and rates as the most recent full-year funding. When a normal budget is later approved, the temporary funding stops and any spending is moved under the new budget.

Key points:

• Who is affected: Coast Guard retirees’ families and survivors who receive these benefits.
• What changes: Automatic, stopgap funding to prevent any break in payments during budget delays.
• When: Every fiscal year after 2024, until the regular funding for that year is passed.