TRUMP’S ORDER PAUSES MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT PREVENTION AND RESPONSE TRAINING
Lawmakers continue to come to terms with numerous executive orders issued by President Donald Trump. It’s been a confusing time; however, many are curious why sexual assault prevention and response training in the military was cut due to the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. This comes as issues involving military sexual trauma (MST) persist for warfighters.
Why Was Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Training Suspended?
Due to the elimination of DEI programs, sexual assault prevention and response training in the military was cut, prompting Democratic women to question how we got here.
Many of those serving as part of the House Armed Services Committee continue to search for answers following the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) elimination of military sexual assault training.
At the center of all of this continues to be the review of learning materials that may not qualify under Trump’s elimination of diversity and gender identity.
It’s worth noting that beyond this concern being common sense and a good-natured approach here, politicians are inquiring about these cuts because the law requires that sexual assault prevention training take place within the military.
In a letter sent to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, efforts led by the lawmakers noted that sexual assault prevention training is required by law and called on him to answer how exactly Trump's orders led to the pause.
The letter was organized by Democratic Reps. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), and other female Democrats on the House Armed Services Committee, co-signed.
DEI Ban Hinders Critical Training
From the campaign trail to reality on day one when he issued the executive order, Trump has been adamant about eliminating DEI programs.
While the EO is in effect, there is a lot of confusion about how it’s supposed to be implemented, leading to reviews when materials mention women and minorities the Trump administration may see as non-compliant.
Another EO under Trump eliminated acknowledgment of transgender people by the federal government as well as training materials dealing with gender ideology.
Military officials initially downplayed the impact of the EOs, but this only sparked more confusion and efforts to limit outreach to minority groups.
While some removed materials were later restored after backlash, several key terms were censored following their review.
Branch Reviews
Both the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps temporarily paused their Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) training to review compliance with Trump’s orders.
From February 4, 2025, until February 7, 2025, the USMC temporarily paused training; however, the Marines thankfully maintained support services during this time.
One notable exception was the U.S. Army, while the country’s largest military branch, there was no interruption of military sexual assault training due to the curriculum being found to be compliant.
Sexual Assault Prevention in the Military is Much Needed
Military sexual assault is still a troubling problem throughout the American Armed Forces, with elevated rates affecting almost 29,000 service members in 2023 alone—a year noted for its decline.
It’s clear that more needs to be done and one of the biggest storylines surrounding Hegseth’s nomination involved past allegations of sexual misconduct, which he continues to deny.
Answers, rightfully so, continue to be sought as to whether these disruptions are necessary for the goals they hope to achieve.
Beyond the fact that sexual assault prevention and response training is the law, service members deserve proper SAPR programs for everyone’s well-being.
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