Pete Hegseth launches President’s Military Spouse Commission

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth addressed the President’s Military Spouse Commission on Monday to initiate its work following an executive order by President Donald Trump. The commission is tasked with advising the president on policies impacting military families, specifically focusing on employment, housing, healthcare, childcare, and education.

Hegseth expressed a commitment to acting on the commission’s recommendations, noting that the military’s healthcare reimbursement rate requires improvement. Jennifer Hegseth, the commission’s chair, emphasized the need to overcome bureaucratic red tape to implement both new and existing solutions.

Commission members highlighted critical issues, particularly spousal employment. Data from Blue Star Families indicates that the unemployment rate for military spouses hovers around 22%, despite nearly 50% of the demographic holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.