Statement: Sexual Assault Prevention Programs Slashed as Military Faces Recruitment Shortfall
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2025
Brian Purchia, brian@protectourdefenders.com
Protect Our Defenders warns rollbacks will shrink the talent pool and threaten military readiness
Update: Sec. Hegseth & military leadership walks back plan to cut sexual assault & harassment prevention and response programs
Following up on our statement regarding the military’s decision to roll back key Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) programs—Sec. Hegseth & military leadership are now claiming these programs are being “revised” rather than eliminated. However, the fact remains that these programs were explicitly included in an original cancellation directive.
This abrupt policy shift has created widespread confusion among recruiters and service members. There is still no clear timeline for when—or if—these programs will be fully restored.
Key Developments:
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Military branches sent explicit guidance that these programs were being cut. Now, facing backlash, they are attempting to walk back that decision.
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The lack of clarity is fueling frustration and uncertainty. Recruiters are receiving a barrage of new directives, further undermining confidence in leadership.
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This chaos comes at a time when recruitment is already at a crisis point. With multiple branches struggling to meet enlistment goals, sending mixed signals about service member protections is a reckless move.
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Recent military sexual assault cases only underscore the need for stronger—not weaker—prevention programs. The sentencing of Maj. Michael Stockin for abusing 41 service members is just the latest example of why these policies matter.
We will continue to track this issue closely.
Washington, DC – Protect Our Defenders (POD) – the pre-eminent national human rights organization dedicated to ending sexual violence in the military – is calling for an immediate halt to the cancellation of Sexual Assault (and harassment) Prevention and Response (SAPR) programs across all military branches. Following President Trump’s directive eliminating protection and prevention programs for victims of rape and sexual assault, the Coast Guard, the Army, Navy, and Air Force have moved to dismantle critical anti-harassment programs and policies that protect service members from sexual assault and misconduct.
At a time when the military is facing a severe recruitment and retention crisis – with the Army, Navy, Air Force, and National Guard all falling short of their recruiting goals in 2023 – rolling back military personnel SAPR programs would exacerbate these challenges, further shrinking the talent pool essential for mission readiness.
These proposed cuts come in the wake of historic bipartisan reforms that expanded SAPR programs in 2023. If enacted, these cuts will directly undermine crime victims, these initiatives and hinder recruitment efforts – particularly at a time when the Army’s 2024 success, fueled by a surge of female enlistments, stands out against multiple branches that fell short of their goals in 2023. Eliminating critical SAPR programs would send the wrong message to prospective service members and further weaken the military’s ability to attract and retain top talent.
This comes amid the sentencing in one of the of the largest military sexual assault scandals in recent history, where Maj. Michael Stockin was sentenced to nearly 14 years in prison after pleading guilty to sexually abusing 41 former patients (soldiers). Additionally, Army Major Jonathan J. Batt of the Joint Artificial Intelligence Center in Crystal City, Virginia was recently charged with sexual assault-related charges involving at least 20 alleged victims. These cases underscore the urgent need for continued education and prevention efforts, not the rollback of essential programs. Systemic reforms are critical to ensuring that military survivors of criminal sexual violence receive the protections and resources mandated by federal law.
As the military faces unprecedented recruiting challenges, with only the Marine Corps and Space Force meeting their FY23 recruitment goals, dismantling essential prevention and response programs threatens to further erode the talent pool necessary for mission readiness.
Protect Our Defenders Founder and CEO, Nancy Parrish, released the following statement:
“Dismantling military sexual assault and harassment prevention and response programs is a reckless and dangerous decision that puts service members at greater risk. These programs are essential—victims of the crime of rape and sexual violence rely on them for critical support, while prevention initiatives help reduce the likelihood of assaults occurring in the first place. Sexual harassment is often a pre-cursor to rape. It upends careers and destroys lives.
“Recent high-profile cases of military sexual violence make it clear that these efforts must be strengthened, not abandoned. On behalf of the survivors we serve, I call on Secretary Hegseth to immediately reinstate canceled programs and fulfill his duty to protect those who serve.”
Protect Our Defenders Senior Vice President, Josh Connolly, former Chief of Staff for Rep. Jackie Speier (former Chairwoman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee on the House Armed Services Committee), released the following statement:
“The military has long struggled with a culture of sexual violence, and these proposed cancellations send a dangerous message that leadership is turning its back on our troops. The U.S. further risks isolating itself by dismantling programs that allies consider essential for a modern military.
“At a time when the military is facing a severe recruitment and retention crisis, we cannot afford to lose service members or dissuade others from joining due to a failure to provide a safe and accountable environment.”
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