Military spouses know each PCS move costs more than just boxes or miles. It means lost wages, interrupted careers, stalled promotions, and the emotional work of starting over every few years. For spouses working as federal employees, a new bipartisan bill finally addresses this reality.

The PCS Leave for Military Spouse Federal Workers Act, introduced by Rep. Andrea Salinas and Rep. Gabe Evans, would require federal agencies to provide at least five days (40 hours) of paid administrative leave to eligible military spouse federal workers when they relocate on PCS orders with their servicemember. For families who have been burning through annual leave or going without pay just to accomplish a mandatory move, that’s not a perk. It’s overdue.

Why PCS Moves Still Punish Working Spouses

PCS orders are mandatory. The chaos that comes with them is, too.

Even when a spouse has lined up a new position within the federal system, relocation still means time-intensive tasks that simply can’t happen outside work hours: house-hunting and inspections, arranging movers, travel days, temporary lodging, new childcare, school enrollment, base in-processing, and all the paperwork that goes with federal employment and a new duty station.

Currently, federal employees who are military spouses have two choices: burn annual leave or take leave without pay and absorb the financial hit.

Either option means the family starts a new assignment already behind. This is the instability the bill aims to fix.

Blue Star Families CEO Kathy Roth-Douquet said,

“Providing 40 hours of administrative leave for spouses during a PCS move isn’t just thoughtful, it’s smart policy. It helps retain talent, reduces job instability, and makes military service more sustainable for families.”

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What the PCS Leave for Military Spouse Federal Workers Act Would Do

Under the bill as introduced, the PCS Leave for Military Spouse Federal Workers Act would:

• Guarantee a minimum of five workdays (40 hours) of paid administrative leave for eligible military spouses who are federal employees and must relocate on PCS orders.
• Ensure that time is specifically tied to PCS relocation tasks, not charged against annual or sick leave.
• Standardize PCS leave across agencies, moving from today’s patchwork policies to a clear, consistent minimum.
• Strengthen career continuity for military spouse employees who are exactly the kind of mid-career talent agencies can’t afford to lose.
• Support family well-being and readiness by reducing the financial and logistical shock of a move the family did not choose.

In policy terms, the bill turns what federal guidance has encouraged, up to five days of administrative leave for relocating military spouses, into a requirement with clear expectations for agencies and supervisors.

A Bipartisan Bill Backed by the Military Family Community

This is not symbolic. The PCS Leave Act follows years of advocacy and research showing PCS moves harm military spouse employment.

Alongside Blue Star Families, several major organizations have already thrown their support behind the bill:

• Military Family Advisory Network (MFAN)
• National Military Family Association (NMFA)
• Military Officers Association of America (MOAA)

Each of these groups consistently flags spouse employment, financial strain, and relocation stress as top issues affecting whether families can, or want to, stay in the military long-term. Putting PCS leave for federal-employee spouses into law takes a concrete step toward addressing that.

The Data Behind the Need

Military spouse employment and income gaps are not "soft" problems; they are documented, persistent, and directly tied to readiness and retention.

Current research shows:

• Unemployment among military spouses hovers around 20–21 percent, roughly four to five times the national average, depending on the survey year and methodology.
• According to NMFA, employed military spouses earn about 26.8% less than similar civilians, mainly due to frequent moves and career disruptions.
• Spouse employment remains a top concern in key surveys from Blue Star Families and others, alongside childcare, housing, and food insecurity.
• MFAN’s work on food insecurity has repeatedly linked recent moves and military spouse unemployment with financial hardship and increased risk of food insecurity in active-duty families.

Federal agencies face more than a family issue; they encounter a workforce issue. Military spouses often bring higher education, security clearances, and deep experience in federal systems. Losing them to each PCS move proves both costly and short-sighted when it comes to retaining talent.

How This Changes the PCS Experience for Federal Employee Spouses

If enacted, the PCS Leave Act would change the PCS experience for federal spouse employees, from DoD civilians to VA staff to civilian agency workers married to service members.

Here’s what will change on the ground:

• Less financial whiplash. Families would no longer have to burn a week of annual leave or accept unpaid days just to accomplish a mandatory move.
• Spouses could use dedicated paid time to settle in, focusing on work rather than scrambling to handle pack-out, travel, and check-in during job hours.
• Consistent PCS leave means fewer gaps, fewer missed promotions, and a clearer path to staying in federal service across multiple stations.
• When a spouse isn’t forced to choose between a paycheck and a PCS, they’re far more likely to remain in the federal workforce.

The point is simple: military families shouldn’t be penalized at work for complying with military orders.

What Happens Next

Right now, the PCS Leave for Military Spouse Federal Workers Act has been introduced in the House and is awaiting further action. As with any bill, it will need to move through committee consideration and floor debate before becoming law.

If you are a military spouse working as a federal employee, pay close attention to this legislation. Track its progress, understand your rights, and consider sharing your story to help ensure these hard-won acknowledgments in federal law make a difference.

It says, in effect, your contribution to both your family and your federal agency matters. And when the military orders your family to move, your job shouldn’t be the first casualty.

Suggested reads:

• PCS Moving Nightmares: Military Families' Harrowing Stories
• DoD Must Overhaul PCS Reimbursement System for Troops
• PCS Orders: Financial Challenges for Military Spouses