OATH Act of 2025

This legislation aims to ensure veterans who participated in classified government programs receive the full benefits they have earned by defining a "secrecy oath program" as any U.S. Government program requiring non-disclosure agreements under penalty of court-martial or criminal punishment. The bill mandates the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to identify veterans from such programs within 90 days of their oath release and notify them of all eligible benefits and services. This includes a specific requirement to identify and notify veterans who participated in the Edgewood Arsenal program between 1948 and 1975. A significant provision concerns the effective dates for disability compensation awards, establishing that for veterans of the Edgewood Arsenal program or any other secrecy oath program, the effective date will be the day following their discharge or release from service. This change allows for the potential award of retroactive disability compensation .