On February 5, 2025, Representatives Rob Wittman (R-Va.) and Eugene Vindman (D-Va.) introduced the Support Military Families Act, aiming to exempt military spouses employed by the federal government from the recent return-to-office mandate. This legislation addresses concerns arising from President Donald Trump’s executive action requiring federal employees to resume in-person work.
The bill seeks to support military families by allowing spouses to maintain remote work arrangements, thereby ensuring financial stability and retaining experienced personnel within the federal workforce. Military spouses face unique employment challenges due to frequent relocations and childcare responsibilities, contributing to an unemployment rate of approximately 21% since 2015.
Representative Wittman emphasized the importance of dual incomes for military families, citing a constituent from Yorktown who relies on remote work to sustain her federal career amid frequent moves. Similarly, Representative Vindman highlighted a case from Orange County where a military spouse faces the dilemma of either undertaking a 200-mile daily commute to Washington, D.C., or leaving her 18-year federal position due to the in-person work requirement.
The Support Military Families Act also mandates a report from the U.S. Comptroller General to Congress, detailing the number of military spouses affected by the return-to-office order, their commuting distances, and the economic impact of enforcing in-person work, including costs associated with filling vacated positions and potential productivity losses.
This legislative effort underscores the bipartisan commitment to addressing the employment challenges faced by military spouses and ensuring their continued contribution to the federal workforce.
