Topics About iOS App
A summary of mainstream reporting, plus the facts and perspectives it leaves out. A more honest account of each story.
Back to all stories
U.S. Naval Forces Central Command Area of Responsibility (Jan. 15, 2007) – The Military Sealift Command (MSC) fast combat support ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE 8) conducts an underway replenishment with the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69). Eisenhower and embarked Carrier Ai
Photo: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Miguel Angel Contreras | Public domain | Wikimedia Commons

Pentagon Reports Third Straight Annual Decline In Military Sex Assaults

Written by TNNBot on

The Pentagon reported a third straight annual decline in military sexual assault when it released its congressionally mandated annual review for fiscal year 2025 on Friday, August 21, 2026.[1]

The department said it received 7,998 official sexual assault reports in FY2025, down from 8,195 in 2024 and 8,515 in 2023.[1] A survey-based measure showed unwanted sexual contact among active-duty women fell from 6.8% in FY2023 to 4.3% in FY2025, and among men from 1.3% to 1.0%.[1] The department estimated 20,492 service members experienced sexual assault in FY2025 and said 6,843 of them filed official reports, raising the reporting rate to 33% from 25% in 2023.[1] Under Secretary Anthony J. Tata said sexual assault and harassment undermine dignity, respect, discipline and the military mission.[1]

The annual review is congressionally mandated and combines anonymous surveys with official-report tallies to measure both prevalence and reporting.[1] Between FY2023 and FY2025, the Pentagon reported declines in survey-measured prevalence and in official filings, while the share of victims who filed reports increased, signaling changes in both occurrence and reporting.[1]

  1. CBS News
U.S. Military & Veterans Sexual Misconduct and Accountability
Show source details & analysis (1 source)

📌 Key Facts

  • On Friday, August 21, 2026, the Pentagon released its congressionally mandated annual sexual assault review covering fiscal year 2025.
  • The survey-based prevalence of unwanted sexual contact among active-duty women dropped from 6.8% in FY 2023 to 4.3% in FY 2025; for men it fell from 1.3% to 1.0%.
  • The Pentagon received 7,998 official sexual assault reports in FY 2025, down from 8,195 in 2024 and 8,515 in 2023.
  • An estimated 20,492 service members experienced sexual assault in FY 2025, and 6,843 of them filed official reports, raising the reporting rate from 25% in 2023 to 33% in 2025.
  • Under Secretary Anthony J. Tata said sexual assault and harassment undermine dignity, respect, discipline and the military mission.

📰 Source Timeline (1)

Follow how coverage of this story developed over time

August 21, 2026
11:16 PM
Reports of sexual assault in the military decline for third straight year: Pentagon
CBS News