--- title: "US military sees more unwanted sexual contact reports, fewer incidents" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-military-sees-more-unwanted-sexual-contact-reports-fewer-incidents" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-military-sees-more-unwanted-sexual-contact-reports-fewer-incidents" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-military-sees-more-unwanted-sexual-contact-reports-fewer-incidents.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/us-military-sees-more-unwanted-sexual-contact-reports-fewer-incidents" category: "Politics" area: "United States" published: "2026-08-21T21:05:14.866Z" source_reported: "2026-08-21T20:09:19.000Z" updated: "2026-08-21T21:05:14.866Z" trust_score: 60 critic_score: 60 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-08-21T21:01:21.117233+00:00" --- # US military sees more unwanted sexual contact reports, fewer incidents *Pentagon report shows increased reporting alongside a decrease in overall unwanted sexual contact.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 60 of 100, higher is better. Two full reports and 9 digests corroborate the central claims, with specific figures provided. - Craft 60 of 100, higher is better. Reports quote defense officials and include specific figures, dates, and percentages. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. Headlines accurately reflect the content of the reports, with no sensationalism. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - 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. - The number of reported sexual assaults decreased to 7,998 in 2025 from 8,195 in 2024. - Unwanted sexual contact among active duty women decreased from an estimated 6.8% in 2023 to 4.3% in 2025. - Sexual harassment among active duty women fell from an estimated 24.7% to 17.5% between 2023 and 2025. A Pentagon report released on Friday indicates that more US service members are reporting instances of unwanted sexual contact. The report, which combines data from confidential surveys and official reports made to authorities, shows an increase in the proportion of those experiencing unwanted sexual contact who report it. In fiscal year 2025, an estimated 33% of active duty personnel reported such incidents, a rise from 25% in fiscal year 2023. Defense officials view increased reporting as a positive sign, suggesting greater confidence in the reporting system and support for victims. Despite the rise in reporting, the overall prevalence of unwanted sexual contact in the military has decreased. The total number of reported sexual assaults fell to 7,998 in fiscal year 2025, down from 8,195 in 2024. The confidential survey data also shows a decline in unwanted sexual contact among active duty women, from an estimated 6.8% in 2023 to 4.3% in 2025. For men, the prevalence dropped from 1.3% to 1% during the same period. Sexual harassment also decreased, falling from 24.7% to 17.5% for women and from 5.8% to 4.4% for men between 2023 and 2025. Social News XYZ reported that an estimated 20,492 US military personnel experienced unwanted sexual contact during fiscal 2025, which represents a decrease of about 8,500 from two years prior. The Department of War stated that the estimated prevalence of unwanted sexual contact declined among both active-duty women and men between fiscal 2023 and 2025. ## Disagreement on total number of personnel experiencing unwanted sexual contact The Pentagon report, as described by Associated Press News and Washington Top News, states that an estimated 33% of active duty personnel who experienced unwanted sexual contact in fiscal year 2025 reported it. Social News XYZ reported that an estimated 20,492 US military personnel experienced unwanted sexual contact during fiscal 2025, a decline of about 8,500 from two years earlier. ## What the coverage left out No right-rated outlet ran this story. None of the left-rated or centre-rated reports below mention the specific actions taken by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Associated Press News described as potentially diminishing the role of women in the military. ## Who covered it Shares of the 10 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 70% (7) - Centre: 30% (3) - Right: 0% (0) 1 of 11 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-08-21T21:01:21.117233+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 4 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-08-21T22:00:15.847Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - Left-rated reports led with the increase in troops reporting unwanted sexual contact, while also noting the overall decrease in incidents. Associated Press News mentioned that the figures cover the initial months of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s tenure, adding that Hegseth has taken actions that suggest he may be looking to diminish the role of women in the military. The Toronto Star, The Hamilton Spectator, El Paso Inc., The Independent, The Seattle Times, and The Record all published digests that focused on the increase in reporting alongside the overall fall in numbers. ### Centre - Centre-rated reports from Washington Top News, Daily News-Record, and WKMG highlighted the dual trends of increased reporting and decreased overall incidents of unwanted sexual contact. Washington Top News, in its full report, noted that defense officials consider the rise in reported assaults a positive trend, indicating greater confidence in the reporting system and support for victims. The digests from Daily News-Record and WKMG also conveyed this dual message. ### Right No separate framing summary. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 6 - unknown: 1 - veryHigh: 4 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/government/2026/08/more-troops-are-reporting-unwanted-sexual-contact-but-numbers-still-fall-pentagon-says) — More troops are reporting unwanted sexual contact, but numbers still fall, Pentagon says - [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/united-states/more-troops-are-reporting-unwanted-sexual-contact-but-numbers-still-fall-pentagon-says/article_f2183626-81e0-57b7-820c-a1c49a88a0d0.html) — More troops are reporting unwanted sexual contact, but numbers still fall, Pentagon says - [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/news/world/united-states/more-troops-are-reporting-unwanted-sexual-contact-but-numbers-still-fall-pentagon-says/article_948804e0-4a7b-5916-ba85-0255943acfd6.html) — More troops are reporting unwanted sexual contact, but numbers still fall, Pentagon says - [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/more-troops-are-reporting-unwanted-sexual-contact-but-numbers-still-fall-pentagon-says) — More troops are reporting unwanted sexual contact, but numbers still fall, Pentagon says - [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/defense-department-washington-pentagon-b3037347.html) — More troops are reporting unwanted sexual contact, but numbers still fall, Pentagon says - [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/military-sexual-assaults-reports-pentagon-562c258638a69931675a853780d9a271) — More troops are reporting unwanted sexual contact, but numbers still fall, Pentagon says - [El Paso Inc.](https://elpasoinc.com/news/ap_wire/more-troops-are-reporting-unwanted-sexual-contact-but-numbers-still-fall-pentagon-says/article_536e56bf-35d4-565c-a4e9-a960c1318658.html) — More troops are reporting unwanted sexual contact, but numbers still fall, Pentagon says - [Daily News-Record](https://dnronline.com/associated_press/national/more-troops-are-reporting-unwanted-sexual-contact-but-numbers-still-fall-pentagon-says/article_b890b293-109f-5033-b818-22102c29a052.html) — More troops are reporting unwanted sexual contact, but numbers still fall, Pentagon says - [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/news/politics/2026/08/21/more-troops-are-reporting-unwanted-sexual-contact-but-numbers-still-fall-pentagon-says) — More troops are reporting unwanted sexual contact, but numbers still fall, Pentagon says - [Social News XYZ](https://socialnews.xyz/2026/08/21/us-military-reports-decline-in-sexual-assaults) — US military reports decline in sexual assaults - [The Record](https://therecord.com/news/world/united-states/more-troops-are-reporting-unwanted-sexual-contact-but-numbers-still-fall-pentagon-says/article_27619f9d-0c84-54bc-a874-af15312d2c8e.html) — More troops are reporting unwanted sexual contact, but numbers still fall, Pentagon says ## Questions **How many troops reported unwanted sexual contact in fiscal year 2025?** An estimated 33% of active duty personnel who experienced unwanted sexual contact in fiscal year 2025 reported it. This figure is up from 25% in fiscal year 2023, indicating that more service members are coming forward to report these incidents. **Did the number of sexual assaults decrease in the US military?** Yes, the number of reported sexual assaults decreased to 7,998 in fiscal year 2025, down from 8,195 in fiscal year 2024. This decline in reported incidents accompanies an increase in the reporting rate of those who experienced unwanted sexual contact. **What were the trends for women in the military regarding sexual contact and harassment?** Unwanted sexual contact among active duty women decreased from an estimated 6.8% in fiscal year 2023 to 4.3% in fiscal year 2025. Additionally, sexual harassment among active duty women fell from an estimated 24.7% to 17.5% during the same period. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/us-military-sees-more-unwanted-sexual-contact-reports-fewer-incidents. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "US military sees more unwanted sexual contact reports, fewer incidents", https://mediabias.news/politics/us-military-sees-more-unwanted-sexual-contact-reports-fewer-incidents