Trump signs executive order supporting military spouses, families
The creation of the Military Spouse Commission underscores the significant burden military families carry, especially amid soldiers’ deployment, and offers military spouses a direct line of communication with the commission.
President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order Aug. 3 establishing a commission tasked with directly communicating with military spouses and creating policy recommendations regarding housing and deployment-related support for military families.
The White House Fact Sheet about the order outlines the unique challenges experienced by military families and spouses, such as frequent relocations, long deployments, barriers to housing, healthcare, education, child care, and employment.
The Military Spouse Commission will advise the President regarding policies that affect military families, such as military spouses’ quality of life, and address these barriers, according to the Fact Sheet.
“Military spouses provide critical support that enables America’s service members to accomplish their mission and defend the Nation,” the sheet states. “Strong military families help build a stronger military, a more resilient fighting force, and a safer and more secure America.”
The commission will be chaired by the spouse of the Secretary of War, and members will include the spouse of the secretary of Homeland Security and the spouses of a number of senior military leaders, including secretaries of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and more than a dozen others.
The White House stated in an Aug. 3 X post that military spouses “make extraordinary sacrifices for our country.”
In a separate post, the White House noted that military families “give up their entire livelihoods in defense of our nation.”
Jennifer Hegseth, who will be the first to chair the commission, told Fox News Digital that she is honored to step into the role and underscored the contributions of military spouses.
"Military spouses are the bedrock of our Armed Forces' readiness and resilience. They are often overlooked but we see them and want them to know help is on the way," Hegseth told the outlet. "I am deeply honored to lead this Commission alongside my fellow military spouses in leadership. We will work tirelessly to dismantle the barriers our families face every single day and these families can rest assured they have a champion in the White House with President Trump.”
Trump will appoint the commission’s executive director.
