Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced today that the Department of Defense Office of Inspector General released its “Review of the Navy and Marine Corps Policies Covering Sexual Harassment Complaint Processes.”
This review examined whether the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps effectively managed the Department of the Navy sexual harassment prevention and response programs.
“The report identified gaps in policy that can weaken program execution and oversight,” said IG Storch. “Sexual harassment undermines the dignity and well-being of individuals and hinders productivity and morale. The DoD and the Military Services have a responsibility to foster a culture of respect and professionalism. By prioritizing sexual harassment prevention and response, the DoD upholds its commitment to a fair and inclusive workplace that helps ensure mission success."
The DoD OIG identified opportunities for the Navy and Marine Corps to improve existing sexual harassment prevention and response program policies. These included ensuring the sufficiency of the documentation of actions to support decisions to dismiss, downgrade, or withdraw complaints; the investigation of egregious sexual harassment complaints; and the completion of training for investigating officers. Furthermore, we identified gaps in the tracking of certain types of sexual harassment complaints that could hinder these Services’ ability to assess the effectiveness of the sexual harassment programs.
The DoD OIG made recommendations to the Director of the DoD Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the Secretary of the Navy, the Chief of Naval Operations, and the Commandant of the Marine Corps. The recommendations call for clarifying existing policies or developing and implementing additional policies or processes to address gaps and enhance the overall effectiveness of the sexual harassment programs. The DoD OIG will monitor progress toward the implementation of these recommendations.