President Trump on Monday signed an executive order establishing the first Presidential Military Spouse Commission, tasking it with developing recommendations to improve the quality of life for military families. Jennifer Hegseth, wife of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, will head the commission.
During a White House ceremony where the order was signed, Trump stated the commission would "provide recommendations for improving the quality of life for military spouses, so that we can better support both our military families." He added that the commission would "develop suggestions to address particular challenges in housing, employment, healthcare, education, child care, and just about everything else you can think of."
Jennifer Hegseth, who has traveled internationally to speak with military spouses, highlighted the extensive experience of the women selected for the commission. "We have the most amazing women here who have decades of experience as military spouses themselves to take a look at it," she said. "There’s really nothing we’re going to find that they haven’t experienced, and so between what they’ve experienced and what they know, we’re going to really tackle these things."
Military spouses face significant hurdles, including unemployment rates that have exceeded 20%. The frequent relocations inherent in military life contribute to these challenges; military families move on average every two to three years, and military children typically relocate between six and nine times from kindergarten through high school graduation.
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine praised the resilience of military spouses, telling the president, "You think we’re strong? American military spouses are ten times stronger."
Other members of the commission include Christie Mullin, wife of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, alongside two dozen other military spouses representing various branches and leadership positions within the armed forces. The commission's work will involve recommending "practicable actions to help ensure the overall well-being of military spouses and to improve the quality of life of military spouses," according to a White House fact sheet.