The $1,776 bonus checks the Trump administration is giving to active duty military service members will benefit approximately 115,000 sailors, Marines and Coast Guard personnel in San Diego County, where many are struggling to cover food and housing costs.
These one-time payments, expected to be delivered before Christmas, total about $202 million, much of which will be spent locally in one of the largest military communities in the country.
This bonus was announced Wednesday, when President Donald Trump declared in a nationally televised speech that he would provide these “warrior dividends” to nearly 1.5 million members of the military, including some reservists. This will cost the government $2.6 billion, which will be funded by an increase in the Pentagon budget.
For some, these checks can’t come soon enough. Studies by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and RAND, a research center, indicate that about a quarter of military service members struggle to get enough food, primarily because of low wages. They also find it difficult to find affordable housing in many cities with a military presence, including San Diego, which has some of the highest rents in the country.
This issue gave rise to San Diego’s Support the Enlisted Project, which helps military members deal with a variety of serious financial issues.
Trump’s bonus “will go a long way toward helping people achieve the financial future they want,” said Tony Teravanien, the project’s director.
“But it is a one-time bonus that can last longer if used properly.”
Original Story
$1,776 bonus checks about to arrive for 115,000 sailors and Marines in San Diego County
