On Friday, President Joe Biden signed an executive order at the newly renamed Fort Liberty in North Carolina to increase work possibilities for military and veteran wives whose careers are often disrupted by their loved ones’ deployments.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a GOP presidential candidate, pledged to rename Fort Bragg, which was named for a Confederate general, if elected.
“It’s an iconic name and iconic base, and we’re not gonna let political correctness run amok in North Carolina,” DeSantis declared at the convention in Greensboro hours after Biden’s address and signing ceremony at Fort Liberty.
The facility was named after North Carolinian Gen. Braxton Bragg, who owned slaves and lost important Civil War battles that helped bring down the Confederacy. Last week, military authorities renamed the installation, but Biden did not mention it in his address to hundreds of soldiers and their wives.
After Minneapolis police killed George Floyd in May 2020, the U.S. military renamed the facility to address racial injustice. Last year, an independent panel suggested renaming Bragg and eight other Army bases honoring Confederate officers.
With 47,000 personnel, it is the largest U.S. Army facility. An administration source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the base’s recent rebranding didn’t influence Biden’s decision to launch his executive order there.
Biden’s campaign didn’t immediately reply.
DeSantis, Pence, and Trump, the GOP front-runner, will address delegates at the state convention in Greensboro on Saturday. Trump, who was arrested for mishandling secret data at his Florida home, will speak at the Georgia Republican Party convention on Saturday.
On Friday, Biden ordered agencies to develop a federal government-wide strategic plan for hiring and retaining military spouses, improve child care options, improve data collection on military and veteran spouses, caregivers, and survivors in the federal workforce, and more than a dozen other actions.
Before signing the order, Biden highlighted that the all-volunteer force, which the president called the “greatest fighting force in the history of the world, bar none,” will celebrate 50 years next month.
Military wives, caregivers, and survivors have answered the call, Biden said. “You protect your family like they protect the nation.”
First lady Jill Biden, whose “Joining Forces” program helps military families, accompanied Biden. She said the new presidential order is a step forward, but firms must hire military spouses and support their families.
Jill Biden said spouses provide experience and flexibility that cannot be taught. When they given the chances they deserve, our service members can fulfill their job knowing that those they love most may prosper.
