Advancing Economic Security for Military and Veteran Spouses, Military Caregivers, and Survivors
Executive Order 14100, issued June 9, 2023, directs the federal government to take coordinated, government-wide action to improve economic security for military spouses, military caregivers, survivors, and veteran spouses. The order aims to make federal employment more accessible, fair, and retention-friendly for these groups by creating a comprehensive hiring and retention plan, expanding data collection and reporting, enhancing training for HR staff, and broadening work arrangements (including telework and relocation-related flexibility). It also targets child care access, support for military spouse entrepreneurship, and practical ways to keep qualified military-connected individuals in federal service—even as service members relocate or deploy. The order assigns leadership to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), and other key agencies (e.g., Defense, Labor, Veterans Affairs, Homeland Security, State, and others) to implement a multi-part strategy. Major features include a government-wide Military and Veteran Spouse, Military Caregiver, and Survivor Hiring and Retention Strategic Plan (the Military-Connected Plan) due within 180 days and updated at least every four years; an emphasis on data-driven reporting and potential derivative hiring preferences; expanded training for HR and hiring managers; and concrete steps to improve telework, relocation support, child care access, and small-business entrepreneurship for military-connected individuals. The order does not create new rights or funding by itself but directs agency actions within existing laws and appropriations.
Key Points
- 1Government-wide Military-Connected Plan: Within 180 days, OPM and the Deputy Director for Management (OMB), with other federal secretaries, must develop a cross-agency plan to recruit, hire, develop, promote, and retain military spouses, military caregivers, survivors, and veteran spouses. The plan must set success measures, include retention strategies, identify barriers to federal employment (including derivative eligibility and promotion), outline marketing strategies, and establish a data-driven approach to transparency and accountability. It must be updated at least every four years.
- 2Expanded Reporting and Data: Beginning in Fiscal Year 2025, the plan requires updating the annual “Employment of Veterans in the Federal Executive Branch” report to rename and broaden it to track employment of military-connected individuals (military spouses, caregivers, survivors, and veteran spouses) in a way that allows comparison and analysis of distinct populations and hiring mechanisms. Collaboration with VA and OPM to share survey data for analysis is encouraged.
- 3Training and Hiring Authority Improvements: Agencies must provide annual HR training on employing military spouses, caregivers, and survivors, including the use of special hiring authorities (e.g., derivative/merit-based paths). The Joining Forces toolkit must be distributed, and agencies should work to publicize and enable use of relevant hiring authorities.
- 4Retention, Mobility, and Relocation Supports: The order directs guidance to reinforce telework/remote work flexibility (to aid retention), authorize up to five days of administrative leave for military spouses during geographic relocations, and encourage agency collaboration to place a spouse or caregiver in another federal position when retention is otherwise blocked by relocations or changes in duty station.
- 5Domestic Telework Overseas Policy (DETO) Enhancements: The DETO program, created under the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2022, is updated with a Memorandum of Understanding between the State and Defense Departments to address housing and safety requirements for overseas work by military spouses. Agencies must standardize DETO policies, establish a unified application system and processing timelines, and set timeframes for decision-making.
- 6Child Care and Family Support: The order requires the DoD, in coordination with OPM, to establish flexible spending accounts for dependent care (by January 1, 2024) and to broaden pathways for military spouses to provide certified, home-based child care on installations (including licensure support and quality benchmarks).
- 7Support for Military Spouse Entrepreneurship: The Small Business Administration (SBA) is tasked with expanding access to resources for military and veteran spouses starting or growing businesses and assessing gaps in access to capital for military spouse entrepreneurs.
- 8Definitions and Scope: The order provides specific definitions for “military spouse,” “military caregiver,” “survivor,” and “veteran spouse,” and clarifies who is covered by the initiatives (federal employees and those eligible for relevant hiring authorities). It also clarifies that nothing in the order expands statutory rights or alters budgetary authorities, and that implementation remains subject to applicable law and appropriations.