May 12, 2026
Ms. Houlahan introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
To designate a senior official responsible for the management and oversight of all programs and activities of the Department of Defense related to the transition of members of the Armed Forces to civilian or reserve status, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Servicemember Civilian Transition Support Act
.
Sec. 2. Designation of senior official for military to civilian or reserve transition
(a) Designation
(1) In general
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness shall designate a senior official of the Department of Defense to oversee policy and programs related to the transition of members of the Armed Forces from active duty to—
(A)
civilian life; or
(B)
reserve components.
(2) Qualifications
The official designated under paragraph (1) shall be designated from among individuals with—
(A)
extensive experience with veterans services; and
(B)
knowledge of the transition from active duty to—
(i)
civilian life; and
(ii)
reserve components.
(b) Role, responsibility, and authority
(1) In general
The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall prescribe the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of the official designated under subsection (a)(1).
(2) Roles, responsibilities, and authorities required
The roles, responsibilities, and authorities prescribed pursuant to paragraph (1) shall include, with respect to the transition of members of the Armed Forces and their families from active duty to civilian life and reserve components—
(A)
serving as the principal advisor to the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, and the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness on policies, operations, and programs and activities relating to the transition of members;
(B)
assisting the Secretary of Defense, the Deputy Secretary of Defense, and the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness with policies, operations, and programs and activities relating to the transition of members;
(C)
working, in coordination with the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, the Secretary of Labor, and the Secretary of Education, to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of all activities relating to the transition of members;
(D)
serving as the chief transition officer of the Department of Defense, with the mission of coordinating and overseeing the effectiveness of transition programs of the Department of Defense and ensuring all members of the Armed Forces are well equipped for civilian life or the reserve components, as the case may be;
(E)
overseeing the Military-Civilian Transition Office and the implementation of transition programs across the Department of Defense;
(F)
conducting a review and assessment of all transition programs and services offered by the Department of Defense, including the Transition Assistance Program and Skillbridge Program, and proposing legislative or administrative action—
(i)
to improve the efficacy and efficiency of the programs; and
(ii)
to ensure compliance with all legal requirements related to transition assistance; and
(G)
working with Federal agencies, State and local governments, and nongovernmental organizations to improve the delivery of transition support services.
(c) Briefing on designation and implementation
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Defense shall provide a briefing to the congressional defense committees (as defined in section 101 of title 10, United States Code) on—
(1)
the status of the designation of the official under subsection (a); and
(2)
the implementation of the roles, responsibilities, and authorities of the official under subsection (b).