New Law Will Help Study Cancer in Military Veteran Pilots
WASHINGTON, DC, August 15, 2025 – On Aug. 14, President Donald Trump signed into law the Aviator Cancer Examination Study (ACES) Act.
This law requires the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to study the prevalence of cancer in military aviators who flew fixed-wing aircraft. This includes pilots, co-pilots, navigators, and other crew members in the United States Armed Forces.
Previous studies from VA and the Department of Defense have shown that military pilots and crew members are at a higher risk of cancer. These include prostate cancer, skin cancer (melanoma), and other cancers like lymphoma and testicular cancer.
Under the new law, the VA will partner with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) to conduct a multi-year study of over 200,000 veteran aviators to identify aviation-related exposures and assess their connection to cancers. The study will examine cancers such as brain, colon, rectal, kidney, lung, melanoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, pancreatic, prostate, testicular, thyroid, bladder, and any others identified as relevant by the VA Secretary in consultation with NASEM.
WWP thanks Reps. August Pfluger (R-TX-11) and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), along with Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Tom Cotton (R-AR), for leading efforts and advocating for this important legislation.
About Wounded Warrior Project
Wounded Warrior Project is our nation’s leading veteran services organization, focused on the total well-being of post-9/11 wounded, ill, or injured veterans. Our programs, advocacy, and awareness efforts help warriors thrive, provide essential lifelines to families and caregivers, and prevent veteran suicides. Learn more about Wounded Warrior Project.
For further information: -- Michael Nilsen, Communications Director, Government & Community Relations, mnilsen@woundedwarriorproject.org, 904.578.3437
The Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act is an omnibus veterans bill, meaning it contains a series of proposals focused on veterans. ...
Service is uniquely engrained in all warriors, and for Caroline Fermin, communications and advocacy have always been key aspects of the meaning of service. She spent 25 years in the Marine Corps,...
Today, Wounded Warrior Project® (WWP) thanked Congress for introducing critical legislation, the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102 and S. 1032), which will allow wounded veterans to keep the full...