( CNN ) -- Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta is expected to announce this week that same-sex spouses of service members will be granted some benefits that they had been denied until now , according to an Obama administration official . Sources in the gay activist community have received indications that the announcement could come this week . The Pentagon has been reviewing what benefits it could extend without violating the Defense of Marriage Act . Gay rights groups have been calling for the change . Among the benefits gay rights groups say can be legally extended are housing on military bases , military ID cards to access on-base activities and programs , access to commissaries and the consideration of a same-sex spouse and family in duty assignments . Panetta 's likely replacement , former Sen. Chuck Hagel , has said he supports extending the benefits . `` I will do everything possible to the extent permissible under current law to provide equal benefits to the families of all our service members , '' Hagel wrote in answer to a questionnaire he completed for the Senate Armed Services Committee . Military club closes ranks to same-sex spouse .
Defense Secretary Panetta is expected to extend more benefits to same-sex spouses . Benefits , including housing , would not violate marriage act , gay rights groups say . Nominee Chuck Hagel has said he supports the extension of such benefits .