WASHINGTON — The White House says that families of service members who commit suicide are now getting condolence letters from the president just like families of troops who die in other ways. The White House has been reviewing the policy since 2009, lobbied by some military families. A White House official said Tuesday that the change was made this week. The official spoke anonymously to discuss policy deliberations.
Previously, the White House would send presidential condolences to the families of those who died either in combat or as a result of noncombat incidents in a war zone. Condolence letters were not sent to the families of those who commit suicide, either at home or at war.
CBS News first reported the policy change.
