A recent Pentagon report indicates an increase in U.S. troops reporting unwanted sexual contact, with an estimated 33% of active duty personnel who experienced such incidents coming forward in fiscal year 2025, compared to 25% in fiscal year 2023. This suggests a greater willingness among service members to report incidents to authorities.
Despite the rise in reporting, the overall prevalence of unwanted sexual contact among active duty personnel has decreased. The confidential surveys found that unwanted sexual contact fell from an estimated 6.8% to 4.3% for women and from 1.3% to 1% for men between 2023 and 2025. Similarly, sexual harassment instances dropped from 24.7% to 17.5% for women and from 5.8% to 4.4% for men during the same period.
The Defense Department received a total of 7,998 reports of sexual assault in 2025, a decrease of 197 from the 8,195 reports received in 2024. Defense officials have previously stated that an increase in reported assaults can be a positive sign, indicating increased confidence in reporting systems and support for victims, especially given the historically underreported nature of sexual assault.
The report's findings cover the initial months of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's tenure. The Pentagon has released reports on sexual assault numbers annually, with biennial confidential surveys conducted to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the issue due to its underreporting.