WASHINGTON — The Pentagon released its annual report on sexual assault in the military on Friday, August 21, 2026. The document detailed a decline in both the prevalence of unwanted sexual contact and the number of formal reports compared to previous years.

The Department of Defense received 7,998 reports of sexual assault in 2025. This figure represents a decrease from the 8,195 reports the department received in 2024. The number of sexual assault reports decreased by 197 from 2024 to 2025.

Pete Hegseth serves as the U.S. Secretary of Defense. The findings in the report are based on confidential surveys conducted every two years and sexual assault reports made to authorities.

Sexual harassment rates also showed a downward trend across the force. The estimated prevalence of sexual harassment among active duty women decreased from 24.7% in 2023 to 17.5% in 2025.

Reporting rates for these incidents increased during the same period. An estimated 33% of active duty personnel who experienced unwanted sexual contact in fiscal year 2025 reported it to authorities. This marks a shift from earlier data, as an estimated 25% of active duty personnel who experienced unwanted sexual contact in fiscal year 2023 reported it to authorities.

The Pentagon report addressed these changes in reporting behavior directly. "In other words, about 1 in 3 Service members reported experiencing their sexual assault to a Department authority," the report stated. It further noted the change over time: "This estimate is up from the 1 in 4 Service members estimated to have reported experiencing sexual assault in FY 2023."

Why It Matters

The events described span 3 years, from 2023 to 2026, providing a multi-year view of trends within the military. The data indicates that while fewer service members reported experiencing unwanted sexual contact or harassment, a higher percentage of those who did experience it came forward to authorities. The rise in reporting from 25% to 33% suggests a potential shift in how personnel engage with the reporting system even as overall prevalence declines.

Timeline

On June 9, 2026, the Defense Department published a rule titled "DoD Assistance to Non-Government, Entertainment-Oriented Media Productions" on 2026-06-09. Subsequently, the Pentagon released a report on sexual assault in the military on Friday, August 21, 2026.

What's New

Additional context includes administrative actions taken by the department prior to the report's release. Structural details note that the Pentagon is headquarters of the United States Department of Defense; named after the shape of the building, a polygon with five (greek: penta) sides.