Advancing Economic Security for Military and Veteran Spouses
Jun 15, 2023
Signed by: Joe Biden
Signed on: Jun 9, 2023
Published on: Jun 15, 2023
Jun 15, 2023
Signed by: Joe Biden
Signed on: Jun 9, 2023
Published on: Jun 15, 2023
Summary
Creates new ways for military families to find jobs, get childcare, and build financial security, especially when they have to move often.
What problem does this solve?
Military spouses face a very high unemployment rate because frequent moves for military service make it hard to build a career. This order directs the government to create better hiring plans, offer flexible work, and improve childcare to help them succeed.
What does this order do?
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Government-wide military and veteran spouse, military caregiver, and survivor hiring and retention strategic plan and training
New government-wide hiring and retention plan
Requires the development of a strategic plan to recruit, hire, and keep military spouses, caregivers, and survivors in federal government jobs.
Expanded access to child care
Requires the Department of Defense to create flexible spending accounts for child care and expand options for home-based care on military bases.
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Retention of military and veteran spouses and military caregivers, including those employed by the federal government
Increased flexibility for remote work
Directs federal agencies to offer more telework and remote work options to help military spouses keep their jobs when they have to move.
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Retention of military and veteran spouses and military caregivers, including those employed by the federal government
Administrative leave for relocation
Encourages federal agencies to grant up to 5 days of paid leave to military spouse employees when they have to move for a service member's new orders.
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Expanding support for military and veteran spouse entrepreneurs
New support for spouse-owned small businesses
Directs the Small Business Administration to expand resources for military spouses who want to start or grow their own businesses.
Streamlined overseas remote work program
Requires improvements to the Domestic Employees Teleworking Overseas (DETO) program to make it easier for federal employee spouses to work remotely from overseas.
Who does this affect?
- Military spouses
- Veteran spouses
- Military caregivers and survivors
What is the real world impact?
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Improves military readiness and retention
Supports military families financially to encourage service members to stay in the military, which is important for national security.
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Promotes gender equality
Recognizes that most military spouses are women and aims to remove career barriers they face, supporting national goals for gender fairness.
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Strengthens the federal workforce
Taps into the skilled and diverse talent pool of military spouses to fill government jobs, making the federal government a better employer.
When does this start?
This order takes effect immediately on June 9, 2023, and sets several future deadlines for government agencies.
Reference
Text:
Section:
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Government-wide military and veteran spouse, military caregiver, and survivor hiring and retention strategic plan and training
Military-connected hiring and retention plan
The Office of Personnel Management must create and release a strategic plan for hiring military-connected individuals within 180 days of June 9, 2023.
Dependent care flexible spending accounts
These accounts must be available to military members no later than January 1, 2024.
Updated federal employment report
Starting in Fiscal Year 2025, the yearly federal employment report will be renamed to include data on military spouses and survivors.
Military spouse hiring authority on job postings
Starting in Fiscal Year 2025, federal agencies must list the special hiring authority for military spouses on relevant job announcements.