Several military branches have temporarily halted sexual assault prevention training following President Donald Trump’s executive order on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). These branches are currently reviewing how the order impacts their policies.
Coast Guard veteran K. Denise Rucker Krepp, an advocate for sexual assault awareness in the armed forces, expressed concern over the decision in a phone interview with Newsweek on Saturday morning. She warned that this move could discourage service members from reporting sexual crimes.
Sexual assault and harassment remain major issues within the military, affecting thousands of service members each year.
The DOD reported that in 2023, nearly 25% of active-duty women and almost 6% of men experienced sexual harassment. Additionally, the department received 8,515 reports of sexual assault, though actual figures are expected to be higher due to underreporting.
The suspension of sexual assault prevention training raises concerns regarding prevention efforts, service member safety, and the reporting of sexual crimes.
Shortly after assuming office, Trump signed an executive order titled "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing," dismantling federal DEI initiatives.
Since then, various government agencies and departments have been assessing how to comply with the order. As part of this process, some military branches have paused sexual assault prevention training.
A directive from the Marine Corps, obtained by The Los Angeles Times, instructed personnel to "pause all [Sexual Assault Prevention and Reporting] training due to recent changes within the White House to remove diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) from all federal policies." However, it remains unclear how the executive order directly impacts this training.
Reports from The Los Angeles Times and Defense One confirm that the U.S. Navy has also suspended its sexual assault prevention training.
The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) program, established in 2005, is responsible for preventing sexual assault and supporting victims in the military. While the pause affects training sessions, other SAPR resources for victims remain available, and service members can still report sexual harassment and assault.
Krepp criticized the pause, stating, "Sexual assaults are criminal acts committed against men and women. This is not about diversity; it’s about addressing crimes."
She also emphasized the importance of maintaining training, noting that fear of retaliation already prevents many victims from coming forward. "We don’t want that fear to return because that will not stop crime," she said. "When you don’t continue to address this, criminal activity continues."
This decision comes shortly after Pete Hegseth’s confirmation as Secretary of Defense. Hegseth has faced accusations of sexual assault, which he has denied. During his confirmation hearing, he disclosed that he paid $50,000 to settle a claim made by a woman who accused him of sexual assault in 2017.
A 22-page police report described allegations that Hegseth sexually assaulted a woman in a California hotel room in 2017. Hegseth denied wrongdoing, asserting the encounter was consensual. No charges were filed.
Sexual crimes in the military are not uncommon.
In January, U.S. military doctor Major Michael Stockin pleaded guilty to sexually abusing dozens of soldiers. Stockin, an anesthesiologist and pain management specialist at Joint Base Lewis-McChord's Madigan Army Medical Center, admitted to 36 counts of abusive sexual contact and five counts of indecent viewing.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, called the training pause "incredibly alarming." In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she wrote: "We worked for a decade to combat sexual assault in our ranks, resulting in historic reforms to our military justice system. Rest assured, I'm demanding answers, and I won't rest until I get them."
Representative Sara Jacobs, a California Democrat, also criticized the move on X: "I've heard reports the military branches paused sexual assault prevention and response trainings. That's horrific, against the law, and disastrous for our ability to recruit, retain, and protect women. @SecDef, you have some explaining to do. Stay tuned for my oversight letter."
Senator Elizabeth Warren, a Massachusetts Democrat, previously posted in December: "In 2023, over 29,000 active-duty troops were sexually assaulted, including more than 6 in every 100 women in the military. Many servicemembers never report these crimes. The rates of assault are estimated to be up to 4x higher. Pete Hegseth must not be the Defense Secretary."
A U.S. Navy spokesperson told Defense One that the branch is "working to fully execute and implement all directives outlined in the Executive Orders issued by the President, ensuring that they are carried out with utmost professionalism, efficiency, and in alignment with national security objectives."
It remains unclear how long the pause will last or whether sexual assault prevention training will undergo changes as a result of the executive order.
Comments
Post a Comment