Support Military Families Act
The Support Military Families Act would allow federal executive-branch employees who are the spouses of members of the armed forces to continue teleworking or working remotely, effectively exempting them from any requirement to work in person. This applies only to those spouses who were already eligible to telework or remote work as of January 20, 2025. The bill requires a GAO report within 180 days after enactment that tallies the affected workforce, estimates how far they would commute if forced to work in-person, and analyzes the potential economic impact of moving to in-person work (including costs to fill vacancies and lost productivity). The measure is designed to support military families by providing greater work flexibility without altering the fundamental structure of federal employment.
Key Points
- 1Exemption for military-spouse federal employees: Spouses of armed forces members in the executive branch would not have to return to full-time in-person work and may work via telework or remote arrangements.
- 2Notwithstanding existing rules: This flexibility would apply “notwithstanding” any other law, rule, or regulation, effectively granting a broad override to current telework/in-person requirements.
- 3Limited to those already eligible: The exemption applies only to spouses who, before January 20, 2025, were eligible to telework or remote work.
- 4GAO report requirement: Within 180 days of enactment, the Comptroller General must report on (1) the total number of affected employees, (2) the average potential in-person commuting distance, and (3) the estimated economic impact of requiring in-person work (including vacancy costs and lost productivity).
- 5Definitions tied to existing law: The bill uses the terms “armed forces” and “civil service” as defined in 5 U.S.C. 2101, ensuring alignment with established federal vocabulary.