Biden signs order making military sexual harassment a criminal offense

President Biden has signed an executive order that will make sexual harassment in the military a criminal offense, with enforcement to be handled by outside investigators that are independent of the military's chain of command.

Biden's executive order comes over four months after the Pentagon vowed to take action on the recommendations of a commission on sexual assault and harassment in the military, which made 82 recommendations in June aimed at improving how the military handles cases of sexual assault and harassment.

"We're going to make needed foundational investments to support sexual assault accountability, prevention programs, healthy command climates and quality victim care," Hicks said at the time. "To date, sexual harassment and sexual assault remain serious problems in our force, with lethal consequences for our service members and harmful effects on our combat readiness."