Memorandum on Advancing Fair Practices by Education and Training Institutions Serving Servicemembers, Veterans, Eligible Spouses, and Other Family Members
Issued 2016-11-10 by Barack Obama
Plain-English Overview
AI-generated summary explaining what this action does, who it affects, and why it matters
This memorandum directs federal agencies to strengthen protections for service members, veterans, and their families who use government education benefits at colleges and training programs. It builds on earlier efforts to ensure that educational institutions receiving federal military funding follow fair practices, provide clear information about costs and quality, avoid deceptive recruiting tactics targeting military benefits recipients, and deliver adequate academic support services.
The action affects approximately 200,000 service members who leave the military each year and pursue education or training. Since 2008, the Post-9/11 GI Bill has provided over $68.9 billion in education benefits to more than 1.7 million individuals, and the Department of Defense's Tuition Assistance Program continues serving active military personnel and their eligible family members. The memorandum asks agencies to continue implementing standards for schools that receive this federal military education funding.
This matters because it aims to protect those who have served in the military from unfair practices by educational institutions as they pursue civilian careers and education. By directing agencies to improve oversight, information sharing, and complaint systems, the memorandum seeks to ensure that military education benefits are used at quality institutions that provide value rather than taking advantage of service members and veterans.
AI-generated summary for educational purposes
Constitutional Analysis
How this action fits (or doesn't) within Article II authority and existing law
This presidential memorandum ("Memorandum on Advancing Fair Practices by Education and Training Institutions Serving Servicemembers, Veterans, Eligible Spouses, and Other Family Members") provides direction to executive branch agencies. The stated purpose: "that we are fulfilling our promises to all those who have served." Presidential memoranda function similarly to executive orders but are typically more narrow in scope, addressing specific agencies or implementation details. The President's authority to direct executive branch operations is grounded in Article II of the Constitution.
Memoranda are a routine administrative tool. They guide agencies on priorities, interpretation of statutes, and implementation procedures. As long as they operate within the bounds of existing law and respect congressional mandates, they are a standard exercise of presidential power that every modern administration has used.
Official Summary
Administration of Barack Obama, 2016 Memorandum on Advancing Fair Practices by Education and Training Institutions Serving Servicemembers, Veterans, Eligible Spouses, and Other Family Members November 10, 2016 Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies Subject: Advancing Fair Practices by Education and Training Institutions Serving Service Members, Veterans, Eligible Spouses, and Other Family Members By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, I hereby direct the following: Section 1. Purpose. This memorandum directs executive departments and agencies (agencies) to perform certain functions to further strengthen the Federal Government's work in promoting fair practices by education and training institutions serving service members, veterans, eligible spouses, and other family members. Sec. 2. Background. Throughout my Administration, I have prioritized efforts to ensure that we are fulfilling our promises to all those who have served. I have called upon my Administration to do all we can to ensure that our service members, veterans, eligible spouses, and other family members who have given so much to our Nation have the protections, resources, inform