More troops are reporting unwanted sexual contact, but numbers still fall, Pentagon says

The Pentagon has released a report indicating that more U.S. troops are reporting unwanted sexual contact to authorities, despite a decrease in overall reported incidents in the past year. According to the report, an estimated 33% of active duty personnel who experienced unwanted sexual contact in fiscal year 2025 reported it, up from 25% in fiscal year 2023.

This figure is based on confidential surveys and reported sexual assault cases. The Pentagon emphasizes that the increase in reported assaults is a positive trend, as it demonstrates growing confidence in the reporting system and greater willingness to seek support for victims. However, the number of reported sexual assaults dropped last year, with 7,998 reports filed in 2025, a reduction of 197 from the 8,195 reports received in 2024.

The confidential survey also revealed that unwanted sexual contact among active duty women decreased from 6.8% in 2023 to 4.3% in 2025, while it fell from 1.3% to 1% for men. Sexual harassment among female service members also decreased from 24.7% to 17.5%, while it dropped from 5.8% to 4.4% for men.