{"id":69031,"date":"2021-05-27T10:54:59","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T10:54:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2021\/05\/27\/signs-point-to-shift-in-combating-sexual-assault-in-military\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T13:44:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T13:44:33","slug":"signs-point-to-shift-in-combating-sexual-assault-in-military","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2021\/05\/27\/signs-point-to-shift-in-combating-sexual-assault-in-military\/","title":{"rendered":"Signs point to shift in combating sexual assault in military"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 Momentum in Congress for taking sexual assault prosecution<\/a> powers away from military commanders, combined with a more flexible view by some military leaders, is pointing to a historic shift in the battle against what Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin calls \u201cthe scourge of sexual assault.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The leading lawmaker voice on this issue, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat, has bipartisan, filibuster-proof support for a bill that would take prosecution decisions out of the chain of command for major crimes, including sexual assault, rape and murder. The legislation is caught in a procedural struggle in the Senate that supporters see as an effort to stall the bill and water down its language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pentagon appears resigned to a new approach. Austin, who has emphasized the importance of the issue since his nomination was confirmed in January, is weighing military service leaders\u2019 views, which some or all provided to him in recent days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For years, military leaders have acknowledged sexual assault is a big problem<\/a> but resisted taking prosecutions out of the chain of command; they have argued that it would undermine commanders\u2019 ability to lead and would not reduce the frequency of assaults. That concern \u2014 and others \u2014 remains, but some leaders have begun publicly emphasizing their openness to change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Biden administration\u2019s nominee as Air Force secretary, Frank Kendall, indicated he\u2019s prepared for a new approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cChange is necessary, and hopefully we can move forward,\u201d Kendall told Gillibrand at his confirmation hearing Tuesday, praising her efforts. He added that he believes the problem of sexual assault is rooted in military culture and leadership flaws, and he\u2019s uncertain how broadly her proposed changes in prosecution authority should be applied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a generational change whose time has come,\u201d Gillibrand said Tuesday on the Senate floor in seeking the required unanimous consent to put her bill to a vote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reflecting tensions on this issue among Democrats, Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat and chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, blocked Gillibrand\u2019s procedural move, arguing that her bill must be folded into the broader 2022 defense authorization bill that his committee will take up this summer and fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reed has said he expects the broader defense bill to include \u201ca robust change in the role of the commander in sexual assault cases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shift in attitudes among some military leaders has emerged since President Joe Biden took office. During his campaign, Biden emphatically endorsed removing sexual assault prosecution decisions from the chain of command. He said he would set up a commission to recommend a way forward early in his term.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have to change the culture of abuse in this country, especially in the armed services,\u201d Biden said on April 29, 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\t