US President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Monday to create a new White House commission. The initiative aims to place military families at the center of military readiness efforts.
The executive order would establish the President's Military Spouse Commission. This body is designed to advise the president on policies affecting military spouses and families, providing annual recommendations to improve their quality of life and strengthen military readiness.
The commission is intended to address a range of challenges, including childcare, employment, housing, health care, education, and the demands of repeated deployments.
Family concerns and impact
According to the latest Military Family Lifestyle Survey from Blue Star Families, employment and pay for military spouses are the primary concerns for active-duty families. These are followed by time away from family, childcare, housing and housing allowances, and children's education.
Estimated number of children with at least one parent serving on active duty, according to Military One Source.
During his first term, Trump expanded support for military families by increasing opportunities for federal employment, broadening access to remote and flexible work, and improving occupational license portability for military spouses.
Leadership disputes
There are conflicting reports regarding who will chair the commission. One report identifies the chair as Jennifer Hegseth, while another identifies the chair as Jennifer Rauchet, the wife of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
