The Independent
·Aug 2026
More US troops report sexual assaults as rates fall, Pentagon finds
A Pentagon report says 33% of active-duty personnel who experienced unwanted sexual contact in fiscal year 2025 reported it to authorities, up from 25% in fiscal year 2023. At the same time, reported assaults fell to 7,998 from 8,195 the previous year, while estimated rates of unwanted sexual contact and harassment declined for both women and men. The figures suggest progress in reducing sexual misconduct and encouraging victims to report, though the article notes that the data cover only the early period of Pete Hegseth's tenure and raises concerns about policies affecting women's roles in the military.