Letter to Dr. Mark Esper, Secretary of Defense - Haaland to DoD: Military Families Stuck With Financial Burdens Caused by Coronavirus, They Need Relief

Letter

Secretary Esper,

We applaud the Defense Department enacting the March 11, 2020 Stop Movement Order, which
prevents DoD civilian employees, Servicemembers and their families from traveling and
potentially worsening the spread of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Not only does
this action preserve the health and welfare of DoD civilian employees, Servicemembers and their
families, but it also increases positive outcomes for local communities and ensures our force
readiness is sustained.

While the Stop Movement order was noble and necessary, this unprecedented action left
thousands of military families in extreme financial distress. Shortly after the 60-day movement
suspension was ordered, numerous military members and their families informed us of the
significant repercussions caused by their inability to follow through with their PCS, retirement
and/or separation orders. Their specific circumstances include but are not limited to families
who are renting a home at their current duty station and have contractually purchased or leased a
rental unit at their next duty station, families who are currently renting with landlords who refuse
to release deposits towards rental property at the new duty location, civilian spouses who
terminated their employment prior to the Stop Movement order, and families who will be forced
to separate due to their civilian spouses employment at the new duty station. These
circumstances have forced Servicemembers and their families into difficult financial situations
where they are paying for two residences and must replace necessities that were already shipped,
ie- household goods, rental furniture, and clothing.

We understand there are mechanisms within each respective Service that assist military families
with resources and monetary support like grants and loans, but the monetary caps under these
programs are simply not high enough in this situation. For example, under current policy, Army
families are limited to a maximum of $1,500 to offset their expenses while they wait to PCS.
Additionally, given the scope of the problem, we are concerned about the limited capacity
installation Commanders and organizations like the Airmen and Family Readiness Centers have
to address these claims. This unparalleled order issued to save lives has led to an unparalleled
need for assistance, critically straining the staff and resources available and inevitably resulting
in long delays before relief reaches military families.

We strongly urge you to show the same level of swift action you did in issuing the Stop
Movement Order to exercise every measure within your authority to provide the Services with
the guidance and resources needed to ensure care and support to every military member and
family adversely affected by this order. Further, we strongly urge you to issue guidance
allowing Commanders to use the greatest possible breadth of relief options for these families and
to further empower commanders to coordinate with traditional and non-traditional partners that
may rapidly address the needs of these families, including coordination between gaining and
losing Installations, Military Family Support organizations, national and community non-profits,
veterans service organizations, non-Government Organizations, State and Local Governments,
existing community support efforts, and any and all available relief funds.

We remain eager to assist you in this effort and encourage you to request any additional
resources or authorities you may require to provide for the wellbeing of military families directly
affected by this order. Again, thank you and your team for the COVID-19 responses you've put
in place thus far. Let's continue to serve this community, as they serve our nation, with the
utmost respect and care.