President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Monday to create a new White House commission focused on military families and their role in military readiness. The commission, named the President's Military Spouse Commission, will advise the president on policies affecting military spouses and families, providing annual recommendations aimed at improving their quality of life while enhancing military readiness, according to a White House official.
The commission aims to address challenges faced by military spouses, including childcare, employment, housing, healthcare, education, and the impact of multiple deployments. Trump is expected to sign the order alongside War Secretary Pete Hegseth, his wife Jennifer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, and several military spouses.
Jennifer Hegseth will chair the Military Spouse Commission, which will also include an executive director appointed by Trump, as well as Christie Mullin, the wife of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, and 20 other military spouses representing various military branches.
According to Blue Star Families' latest Military Family Lifestyle Survey, the primary concerns for active-duty military families include spouse employment and pay, time away from family, childcare, housing, and children's education. Approximately 1 million children have at least one parent serving on active duty, as reported by Military One Source.
During his first term, Trump implemented measures to support military families, such as improving occupational license portability for military spouses and increasing access to remote work opportunities. In 2018, he signed legislation allowing military spouses to maintain the same state of legal residence as their active-duty spouse, even when military orders require relocation. In a proclamation for Military Spouse Day, Trump acknowledged the contributions of military families and highlighted the need for continued improvements in employment, housing, childcare, healthcare, and education.