Written by: Abby Keeler, BS and Kayla Reed-Fitzke, PhD, LMFT
The FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (U.S. Congress, 2024) is a piece of legislation passed annually by Congress that authorizes funding for the Department of Defense. It is under the jurisdiction of the Senate and House Armed Services Committees. In this blog, we aim to inform you of the key components of this legislation that will impact service members and military spouses’ quality of life.
“Servicemember quality of life concerns are a major cause of low morale and family stress which are undermining recruitment, retention and military readiness” (House Armed Services Committee, 2024b, p.2). Military family readiness is centered on a family’s capacity and preparedness to face the unique stressors that come along with military life (DoD, 2021). If service members worry about their family’s ability to navigate challenges while they are away on assignment, they will not be able to perform their duties to the best of their abilities. When different aspects of family life suffer, such as work-family conflict or family financial circumstances, so do military satisfaction and retention in service (Woodall et al., 2022). The NDAA 2025 seeks to address this by investing in the areas that matter most to families: housing, childcare, employment, and overall support for spouses’ well-being.
Improving Quality of Life
To improve quality of life of military families and military spouses, the bill (House Armed Services Committee, 2024a) authorizes:
- $954 million over the President’s request for military housing with further funds promised for the construction of new family housing units, and the renovation of barracks. Reliable housing means stability, and stability in a military family can support mental well-being (e.g., Bossarte et al., 2013). Housing disruptions have been shown to directly impact employment stability (e.g., Desmond & Gershenson, 2016).
- Over $176 million for the design and construction of new childcare centers, which will provide the military community with additional childcare facilities and reduce wait times for childcare slots and fee assistance programs. Access to DoD childcare for military spouses seeking employment is also being expanded. Of active-duty spouses, 44% report having at least one child under the age of 13 living at home – accessible childcare is a gateway to employment for many spouses (Office of People Analytics, 2025). The availability of childcare continues to be identified as a top barrier to obtaining employment during a PCS (Office of People Analytics, 2025).
- Support of spouses by extending the DoD’s authority to fill open civilian positions with qualified military spouses and making it easier for military spouses to transfer professional licenses between states – a persistent challenge for those in teaching, nursing, therapy, and other licensed professions (Office of People Analytics, 2025).
- The codifying of the Military Spouses Career Accelerator (MyCAA), which is a workforce development program that provides financial assistance to military spouses. The financial assistance can be used to support licensure costs, as well as certifications or associate degrees. Codifying the MyCAA will make it easier for service providers to understand and implement as they are supporting military spouses.
These are just a few of the key provisions that affect military spouses found in the NDAA 2025. We know that when military spouses thrive, military families stay resilient – and national defense stays strong. These NDAA provisions aren’t just policy tweaks – they’re a roadmap for better supporting the people who support our service members.
Providers, employers, and other professionals play a key role in bringing these provisions to life. By adjusting hiring practices, promoting military spouse-owned businesses, being flexible with licensure, or simply offering accessible services, your actions can magnify the impact of this legislation.
References:
Bossarte, R. M., Blosnich, J. R., Piegari, R. I., Hill, L. L., & Kane, V. (2013). Housing instability and mental distress among US veterans. American Journal of Public Health, 103 (Suppl 2), S213–S216. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2013.301277
Department of Defense. (2021). DOD Instruction 1342.22: Military Family Readiness. Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. https://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodi/134222p.pdf
Desmond, M., & Gershenson, C. (2016). Housing and employment insecurity among the working poor. Social Problems, 63 (1), 46–67. https://doi.org/10.1093/socpro/spv025
House Armed Services Committee. (2024a). Text of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025. U.S. House of Representatives. https://armedservices.house.gov/ndaa/fy25-ndaa-resources.htm
House Armed Services Committee. (2024b). Full summary: Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement Act and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 (p. 2). https://armedservices.house.gov/ndaa/fy25-ndaa-resources.htm
Office of People Analytics. (2025). 2024 Active Duty Spouse Survey. https://www.militaryonesource.mil/data-research-and-statistics/survey-findings/spouse-survey/
U.S. Congress. (2024). Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025, Pub. L. No. 118-159, 138 Stat. 1773. https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/5009/text
Woodall, K. A., Esquivel, A. P., Powell, T. M., Riviere, L. A., Amoroso, P. J., & Stander, V. A. (2023). Influence of family factors on service members’ decisions to leave the military. Family Relations, 72, 1138-1157. https://doi.org/10.1111/fare.12757
Photo Credit: W.Scott McGill | Adobe Stock 107027042
