FIRST ON FOX: Trump to open direct line with military families in ground-up readiness push

FIRST ON FOX: President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Monday creating a new White House commission aimed at putting military families at the heart of military readiness, Fox News Digital has learned.

The executive order would establish the President’s Military Spouse Commission, which would advise the president on policies affecting military spouses and families and provide annual recommendations to improve their quality of life while strengthening military readiness, a White House official told Fox News Digital.

The commission is designed to give the White House a direct line to the challenges facing military spouses, including childcare, employment, housing, health care, education and the demands of repeated deployments.

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Trump is expected to sign the order Monday afternoon alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, his wife Jennifer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine, and several military spouses, the official said.

The Military Spouse Commission will be chaired by Jennifer Hegseth.

Trump will appoint an executive director, while Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin’s wife, Christie Mullin, and 20 other military spouses representing the service secretaries, Joint Chiefs of Staff and each branch’s senior enlisted leader will serve as commission members.

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Military spouse employment and pay are the top concerns for active-duty military families, followed by time away from family, child care, housing and housing allowances, and children’s education, according to Blue Star Families’ latest Military Family Lifestyle Survey.

An estimated 1 million children have at least one parent serving on active duty, according to government website Military One Source.

During his first term, Trump expanded support for military families by improving occupational license portability for military spouses, broadening access to remote and flexible work, and increasing opportunities for federal employment.

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In 2018, Trump also signed legislation allowing military spouses to claim the same state of legal residence as their active-duty spouse, even when military orders require the family to move elsewhere.

In a Military Spouse Day proclamation signed in May, Trump said the nation’s 250 years of freedom were made possible by the Armed Forces and the “selfless spouses” who have shared in the burden of military service across generations.

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He acknowledged at the time “more work is needed” in relation to employment, quality housing, affordable childcare, accessible healthcare, and education for military families.

“In times of peace and in the crucible of conflict, they rise to meet every challenge and bear the pressures and sacrifices with relentless grace and fortitude,” the proclamation read.