Support Military Families Act

Summary

Exempts executive-branch federal employees who are spouses of members of the armed forces from any requirement to return to full-time in-person work, provided they were eligible to telework or work remotely before January 20, 2025. It also directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report within 180 days on how many such employees exist, their likely commuting burdens if required to report in person, and the estimated economic impact of forcing in-person return (including costs to fill vacancies and lost productivity).

• Exempts executive-branch federal employees who are military spouses from mandatory return-to-office rules if they were telework-eligible before Jan 20, 2025.
• Limits the exemption to employees who already had telework or remote-work eligibility prior to the cutoff date.
• Requires the GAO (Comptroller General) to report within 180 days on the number affected, commuting distances, and estimated economic impacts.
• GAO report must include costs of filling vacancies and lost productivity and be published on GAO’s website and delivered to relevant congressional committees.
• Applies only to executive-branch civil service employees; does not change telework eligibility rules for other employees.
• Does not appropriate new funds or change the tax code; main effects are administrative and personnel-policy related.
• May affect agency staffing, scheduling, and workplace fairness discussions but is narrowly targeted to military spouses.