Biden signs executive order implementing justice reforms into the US military

President Joe Biden signed an executive order Friday that will implement justice reforms into the military recently passed by Congress. 

This order will amend the Uniform Code of Military Justice and will pass decision-making authority from commanders to independent military prosecutors for issues such as ethnic violence, child abuse and sexual abuse. 

Sexual assault has been a huge problem in the military, and lawmakers have been trying to address it for years. 

According to the Defense Department’s Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military for fiscal 2022, 8,942 sexual assault reports were filed from Oct. 1, 2021, to Sept. 30, 2022.

“To be crystal clear, the department’s most senior leaders remain sharply focused on solving the scourge of sexual assault and sexual harassment,” Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said when the report was released, according to the Washington Examiner. 

“We’ll continue to work very hard to make sustained progress to bolster warfighter confidence and leadership, assist sexual assault survivors with recovery, and hold offenders accountable. Sexual violence will not be tolerated, condoned, or ignored within our ranks," the statement also reads.