Trump signs executive order establishing Military Spouse Commission chaired by Jennifer Hegseth

Published Aug 3, 08:20 PM UTC

President Donald Trump signed an executive order on August 3, 2026, establishing the President's Military Spouse Commission, chaired by Jennifer Hegseth, wife of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The commission, comprising over 20 members including spouses of service secretaries, Joint Chiefs members, and senior enlisted advisers, will address persistent problems facing military spouses such as high unemployment rates (above 20%), housing issues, lack of affordable childcare, healthcare access, and deployment-related support. The commission will meet monthly at the White House and provide annual reports. Members serve without compensation but may receive travel reimbursement. The commission is set to expire in two years unless extended by the president. The article notes that previous initiatives under Biden and Obama also aimed to raise awareness of these issues, and it remains unclear how this commission will coordinate with the existing DoD Family Readiness Council.