(The Center Square) – Looking to improve the quality of life of military families who face unique challenges, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed a group of military spouses Monday to kick off the President’s Military Spouse Commission.
The commission established by President Donald Trump in early August through an executive order was tasked with advising the president on policies affecting the military family community, with a focus on military spouse employment, housing, healthcare, childcare and education.
Hegseth underscored the desire for the Department of War to work with the commission to act immediately on needed changes, urging commission members to “think outside the box.”
The secretary recognized the sacrifices military spouses and families make to support military members and the mission.
"What an incredible background of human beings — Americans who gave the entirety of your lives to the whims of where the government sent your family," he said. "And the least we can do is try to look back on that [time] and give."
The secretary appears eager to act on the commission's recommendations, citing the military’s healthcare reimbursement rate, which he argues needs improvement.
He assured the commission that their recommendations will be heard. “From your lips to our ears,” Hegseth told the members.
The secretary’s wife, Jennifer Hegseth, chair of the commission, also addressed the group, arguing that red tape has gotten in the way of enacting solutions, echoing her husband's message.
"Many of those solutions will be new, but some already exist and have gotten stuck in the bureaucracy — and we'll find those too," Jennifer Hegseth said.
The commission members stressed issues involving healthcare, and especially spousal employment.
Military spouse employment is regularly cited as a top complaint, with an unemployment rate hovering around 22%, according to Blue Star Families.
Nearly 50% of military spouses have bachelor’s degrees or higher, according to the National Military Family Association, which added that military spouses’ “talents are chronically underutilized.”
Angie Perryman, wife of Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy John Perryman, underscored the issue of military spouses' employment and the challenges they face in maintaining careers.
"I've been a full-time federal employee with the Department of War for almost 20 years as a licensed clinical social worker, and I know firsthand that military spouse employment is not simply about finding a job; it's about preserving a career," Perryman said. "My goal is to help make military-directed moves as close to career-neutral as possible through portable work, remote work, meaningful license, portability, and employment policies that allow spouses to build careers that move with their families."
Donna Caudle, wife of the chief of naval operations, stressed the challenges families face in accessing healthcare.
"I look forward to working with the commission to help President Trump improve continuity of care and capacity, reduce appointment wait times, and close the gaps in specialty care and mental health services for our military families," said Caudle.
Housing was also addressed during the meeting, with Katrina Isom, wife of the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discussing the rising cost of housing and its impact on military families.
"During our time in the military, I've seen and experienced firsthand the struggles of increasing costs of housing, and the challenges of ensuring [the basic allowance for housing] meets the needs of our service members. As a member of this commission, I look forward to helping ensure that we are doing everything possible to ensure the housing needs of our military members is adequately met," Isom explained.
The Department of War dedicates nearly $30 billion to pay housing allowances for roughly one million service members, with members receiving an average 4.2% increase for 2026.
“The 2026 rates are part of a robust military compensation package and continue the member cost-sharing element at five percent of the national average housing cost by pay grade. These amounts vary by grade and dependency status and range from $93 to $212 monthly,” according to the Department of War.
The commission is scheduled to meet at the White House monthly to continue drilling down into the issues facing military spouses and their families, with Jennifer Hegseth adding that “some solutions will require congression legislation.”
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