U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20) led House and Senate Democrats in a letter asking the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to explicitly exempt military and national security families from the Trump administration’s new restrictions on telework and remote work for federal employees.
Spousal employment challenges are a major cause of forced attrition in both the military and the national security community. While OPM has issued limited guidance exempting military spouses from the termination of remote work opportunities, advocates for these families have expressed frustration about the lack of clarity surrounding full implementation of this exception. Additionally, OPM has not announced exemptions for the families of other national security professionals, such as those in the State Department and the intelligence community.
“We write to express our deep concerns about the unintended consequences of the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) January 22, 2025, implementation guidance regarding a recent Presidential Memorandum on remote and telework arrangements for federal employees. The broad implementation overlooks the economic security and well-being of America’s military families, diplomatic spouses, and other national security professionals who are stationed away from home in service of the U.S. government. The impacted personnel are less than one percent of the federal workforce, but their ability to work from their families’ duty stations for limited periods of time (typically 2-3 years) is essential to recruitment for hard-to-fill assignments, family unity, and retention of their valuable experience and contributions to national security. We urge you to revise OPM’s guidance to explicitly exempt the small number of affected spouses and dependents and avoid attrition issues that could negatively impact American military readiness and national security, “the lawmakers wrote.
“It is commonly said that when one person joins the military, the whole family serves. This maxim is no less true for diplomats, intelligence professionals, federal law enforcement officers, and other national security professionals who are routinely required to relocate to postings across the world. As a result of these relocations, spouses and dependents often struggle to find consistent employment, creating personal and financial strains that have been cited as a major cause of attrition,” the lawmakers continued.
Booker, Van Hollen, and Castro are senior members of the House and Senate committees with jurisdiction over foreign affairs and international relations.
The letter is cosigned by U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and U.S. Representatives Don Beyer (D-VA-08), Johnny Olszewski, Jr. (D-MD-02), Veronica Escobar (D-TX-16), Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL-01), and Sara Jacobs (D-CA-51).
To read the full text of the letter, click here.
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Booker’s Efforts to Protect Military and National Security Families from Forced Attrition
Senator Cory Booker has been a vocal advocate for protecting military and national security families from forced attrition. Forced attrition occurs when service members are separated from the military against their will, often due to factors beyond their control such as medical issues, family emergencies, or changes in military policy.
Booker has worked tirelessly to address this issue by introducing legislation that would provide greater protections for service members and their families. The Military Family Stability Act, which Booker introduced in 2019, aims to reduce the frequency of forced attrition by allowing service members to request a delay in their separation if they are facing extenuating circumstances.
In addition to introducing legislation, Booker has also been a vocal supporter of efforts to improve the transition process for service members who are separating from the military. He has called for increased resources and support for transitioning service members, including access to job training, education benefits, and mental health services.
Booker’s efforts to protect military and national security families from forced attrition have garnered support from across the political spectrum. Members of both parties have praised his commitment to ensuring that service members and their families are treated fairly and with dignity.
In a statement on his website, Booker emphasized the importance of supporting military families, stating that “our service members and their families make tremendous sacrifices on behalf of our country, and we owe it to them to ensure that they are not unfairly separated from the military.” He has vowed to continue fighting for policies that protect military families and ensure that they receive the support they need during times of transition.
Overall, Booker’s efforts to protect military and national security families from forced attrition demonstrate his commitment to supporting those who serve our country. By advocating for greater protections and resources for service members and their families, he is working to ensure that they are able to transition out of the military with dignity and stability.