The president signed an executive order establishing the President’s Military Spouse Commission to advise on policies affecting military families. The order, signed Aug. 3, 2026, directs the commission to develop policies addressing challenges in housing, employment, healthcare, education and deployment-related support.
The order states that military spouses are linked to the readiness and retention of the military, and prolonged absences and repeated relocations place burdens on military spouses running households. Thriving military families mean a stronger America, according to the document.
The spouse of the Secretary of War will serve as chair of the commission. The membership will include the spouses of senior military leaders, including the secretaries of the Army, Navy, Air Force and Homeland Security, as well as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other military chiefs. Members will serve without compensation, contingent on the duration of their spouse’s service in those senior roles.
The commission is tasked with monitoring the order’s implementation, liaising with military spouses to determine common areas of concern, and recommending actions to improve quality of life. The order requires the commission to provide the president with an annual report at the end of each fiscal year and a final report before it terminates.
The Department of War will provide funding and administrative support for the commission. The commission will terminate two years from the date of the order, unless the president extends it.