We're going to hold you accountable for that.
Sarah Elfreth is committed to holding the Defense Department accountable for driving sexual assault in the military to zero and supporting stronger SAPR funding.
Occurrences
Elfreth questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on SAPR funding, support for Ukraine, and NATO cooperation during the House Armed Services Committee hearing.
Evidence
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“She continued by pressing Secretary Hegseth for an increase in Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) funding and a plan to decrease instances of sexual assault in the military.” In her remarks, Elfreth said SAPR funding “increases” are important and asked whether the FY26 budget would include an increase and “a plan from you as to how to drive sexual assaults down to zero?” Hegseth replied that funding “has not been reduced” and that they “do need to drive to zero.”
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Elfreth “focused her questions on funding for Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR)” and the press release says “The Department has stated a commitment to driving sexual assault in the military to zero and maintaining a strong SAPR program. Hegseth committed to a 5% increase in SAPR funding.”
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The Congressional Record for April 28, 2026 contains Senate observations on sexual assault awareness and prevention month and notes the burden of sexual violence in the Armed Forces, including Department of Defense estimates of sexual assault incidents and reports.
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The campaign issues page says Elfreth is dedicated to supporting servicemembers and veterans and, on the House Armed Services Committee, has acted on military-family and veteran priorities.
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Elfreth’s official House page lists her on the House Armed Services Committee, including the Readiness and Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittees.
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Elfreth pressed Secretary Hegseth for increased SAPR funding and a plan to drive military sexual assaults down to zero; Hegseth said the funding had not been reduced.
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H.R. 3838 included sexual-assault provisions requiring SAPR training guidance updates, quarterly reports and briefings on DoD prevention and response efforts, sexual assault nurse examiner availability, and forensic-exam access for DoD civilian employees and contractors.
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Elfreth’s office said 28 of her provisions were included in the NDAA, including SAPR-related items: $5 million for harmful-behavior databases and a required DoD briefing on harmful-behavior data systems.
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Elfreth’s defense report states that 28 of her provisions were included in the FY26 NDAA and lists Sexual Assault Prevention and Response wins: $5 million for harmful-behavior databases and a DoD briefing requirement on harmful-behavior data practices.
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Elfreth again questioned Hegseth on SAPR funding; the page says DoD had stated a commitment to drive sexual assault to zero and that Hegseth committed to a 5% SAPR funding increase.
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DoD reported 8,195 sexual assault reports involving service members as victims and/or subjects in FY2024; the Department said it could not fully interpret the decrease because no prevalence survey was administered that year.
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Based on these rates, the Department estimates that 20,492 Service members experienced some form of unwanted sexual contact in FY 2025, which is 8,500 fewer personnel compared to FY 2023.
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The Department received a total of 7,998 reports of sexual assault in 2025, which is a decrease of 197 from the 8,195 reports received in 2024.
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The Secretary of Defense shall establish a data sharing arrangement pursuant to which each Armed Force shall be required to collect and make available to the other Armed Forces data concerning substantiated allegations of sexual misconduct by members of that Armed Force.
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The Secretary of Defense shall establish and maintain within the Department of Defense an advisory committee to be known as the ``Defense Advisory Committee for the Prevention of Sexual Misconduct''
Assessments
Elfreth took same-term federal actions within relevant Defense oversight jurisdiction: she questioned DoD leadership on SAPR funding and a plan to drive military sexual assault to zero, obtained a reported commitment to a 5% SAPR funding increase, and advanced FY2026 NDAA provisions related to SAPR data, reporting, training, and care access. These are concrete accountability and funding steps. However, the promised end state of driving sexual assault in the military to zero was not achieved, and the record supports progress rather than full delivery.
The promise combines two goals: holding the Defense Department accountable to drive military sexual assault to zero, and supporting stronger SAPR funding. The evidence shows Elfreth actively pursued both in office by questioning Defense Department leadership and pressing for increased SAPR funding and a concrete reduction plan. There is also evidence of a reported 5% SAPR funding increase commitment from DoD. However, the core outcome of driving sexual assault in the military to zero has not been achieved, and the available record shows pressure and partial movement rather than full delivery of the promised result. Because she materially advanced the issue and appears to have helped secure at least a funding commitment, this is best scored as partial rather than never.