Reps. Salinas, Evans Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Spouses of Active-Duty Servicemembers

Washington, D.C. — Today, Representatives Andrea Salinas (OR-06) and Gabe Evans (CO-08) introduced the bipartisan PCS Leave for Military Spouse Federal Workers Act. This legislation would provide critical support to military families by requiring federal agencies to grant paid leave to military spouses who are federal employees and relocating with their active-duty spouse. Currently, spouses are not guaranteed time off for required relocations, which often results in military families taking on great personal and professional costs. This bill was inspired by Rep. Salinas’ constituent who contacted her office about this issue, prompting Rep. Salinas to introduce this legislation.

“When a servicemember gets orders to relocate, their spouse should not have to exhaust their personal time off or forgo pay just to move,” said Congresswoman Salinas. “Our bill ensures that military spouses employed by the federal government have the paid leave they need to relocate with the dignity, stability, and support they deserve. This assistance allows families to manage the practical realities of relocating — like enrolling their children in new schools, finding child care, and setting up a new home — without added strain.”

“As a veteran who has received Permanent Change of Station orders multiple times, I know firsthand the sacrifice that military spouses like my wife make to support their partners,” said Congressman Evans. “I’m proud to co-lead the PCS Leave for Military Spouse Federal Workers Act, which codifies the Office of Personnel Management's guidance and ensures that servicemembers’ husbands and wives working at a federal agency receive at least five days administrative leave when given PCS orders.”

On average, military families move every 2.5 years. A servicemember’s spouse often bears a significant financial, emotional, and physical burden during this process. The PCS Leave for Military Spouse Federal Workers Act builds on a 2023 recommendation from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which suggested that federal agencies should provide up to five days of administrative leave to spouses of active-duty servicemembers making a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) move. However, this recommendation was voluntary and did not mandate agencies to comply. The PCS Leave for Military Spouse Federal Workers Act makes it a requirement for all federal agencies to provide at least five days of administrative leave, thereby lightening the load for military families.

“When onboarding as a new federal employee, I was upfront about needing to PCS in a few months for my spouse’s military service. My agency was fully supportive. However, I needed to use leave without pay since I did not have enough paid leave accrued yet. This negatively impacted both my time-in-grade and my retirement service computation date. My name was listed on those PCS orders, but the orders were not tied to my agency or position. Many military spouses are resigned to remaining unemployed simply because it is too difficult to find jobs that are flexible with moving every few years. This bill would alleviate one more recurring barrier placed on military spouses trying to maintain full-time employment. Help us serve our country too," said Elizabeth Lee, Rep. Salinas’ constituent whose story inspired her to act on this issue.

“Supporting military families means recognizing the unique challenges that come with frequent relocations. Providing 40 hours of administrative leave for federal employees who are military spouses during a PCS move is not just a thoughtful accommodation — it’s a smart policy. It helps retain talented individuals, reduces job instability, and makes military service more sustainable for whole families,” said Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO of Blue Star Families.

“Our 2023 national survey shows that active-duty spouses who are employed full time are more likely to report excellent family well-being, yet too many lose income or employment stability when the military requires a move. Ensuring a window of administrative leave is a meaningful way to support military spouses, strengthen financial stability, and recognize the essential role that military families play in the readiness of our all-volunteer force,” said Shannon Razsadin, Military Family Advisory Network CEO.

This legislation is also endorsed by the Military Family Advisory Network, Blue Star Families, the National Military Family Association, and the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA).

To read the full text of this legislation, click here.

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