Department of Defense attempts to help soldiers financially with new directives

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has announced a series of changes designed to help service members and their families financially.

Austin, in a memo addressed to senior Pentagon leadership on Wednesday, announced automatic increases for the Basic Allowance for Housing starting next month, fully funding commissaries to cut grocery prices, expand spousal employment, and pay eligible service members an allowance, starting next year, for those whose gross household income is below 130% of the federal poverty line, Jeri Busch, the director of military compensation, told reporters on Thursday.