Official reports of sexual assault in the U.S. military decreased for the third consecutive year in fiscal 2025, according to the Pentagon's annual review released Friday. The Defense Department received 7,998 official reports involving service members as victims or offenders, down from 8,195 in 2024 and 8,515 in 2023.
An anonymous survey conducted every other year showed a steeper decline in unwanted sexual contact. Active duty women reporting such conduct fell to 4.3 percent in fiscal 2025 from 6.8 percent in 2023. For active duty men, the rate dropped from 1.3 percent to 1 percent over the same period.
Yet a critical gap remains between estimated incidents and official complaints. The Pentagon estimated 20,492 service members were impacted by sexual assault in fiscal 2025, but only 6,843 filed reports. However, the share of victims who chose to report increased sharply—from 25 percent in fiscal 2023 to 33 percent in fiscal 2025.
Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness Anthony J. Tata said in a statement, "Dignity, respect, and discipline are foundational to the warrior ethos and the overall preparedness of the force. Sexual assault and sexual harassment undermine these values, eroding trust and threatening the mission."
The Pentagon characterized the higher reporting rate as a sign that victims feel more comfortable coming forward. "The Department continues to encourage greater reporting to connect warfighters with vital restorative care and enable leadership to hold offenders appropriately accountable," the agency said in a release.
The congressionally mandated report was published online Friday rather than released at a traditional spring briefing, meaning reporters had no opportunity to ask questions directly about the findings.
