One day after the Senate confirmed him, incoming Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a two-page memorandum on Jan. 23 ordering all commands to outline what they have done to root out and eliminate sexual assault. He wants their responses on his desk by Feb. 5.
“A primary focus should be on how you are conducting oversight to ensure programs and policies are being executed on the ground and with fidelity,” Austin wrote.
The reports should provide him with details regarding accountability measures undertaken during the past year and how well they worked, Austin wrote. He directed the Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness to consolidate the findings and present them to him.
Austin’s actions follow a directive by President Biden ordering the military to form a 90-day commission to address solutions to the sexual-assault issue.
“But I do not want to wait 90 days to take action,” Austin wrote. “I know you have worked on this problem for many years. I tried to tackle it myself when I, too, commanded. We simply must admit the hard truth: We must do more. All of us.”
Austin is a retired Army general.