Biden signs executive order to change the way military handles sexual assault cases

President Biden signed an executive order Friday that takes decisions about whether to prosecute certain major crimes in the military, including sexual assault, out of the chain of command and assigns them to independent military attorneys. 

The changes come after years of pressure on the military from members of Congress and victims' advocates to take commanders — who may have a bias in whether a case goes forward — out of prosecutorial decisions for major crimes, especially in cases of sexual assault. 

Congress passed the reforms in the annual defense bill in December 2021, but any changes to the manual regarding the court martial process require the president's signature on an executive order.