Shaheen, Kennedy Introduce New Bipartisan Legislation to Allow Service Members and Veterans to Seek Justice and Accountability for Sexual Trauma
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee , and John Kennedy (R-LA) are introducing new bipartisan legislation that would help service members who have experienced sexual assault or harassment while serving in the military seek justice and accountability. The Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act would allow service members and veterans to bring civil claims against the United States for negligence that contributed to military sexual trauma over the course of their service. “In recent years, Congress has taken meaningful steps to help empower service members to report instances of sexual assault and harassment, but in order to build on that progress and root out the negligence that has allowed for sexual harassment and assault to thrive in our military, survivors must be able to pursue every possible avenue for legal recourse,” said Senator Shaheen. “It makes no sense that civilians can seek justice from the government when the warriors who have sacrificed everything to protect our nation cannot. Our landmark legislation would right this wrong by tearing down the barriers that prevent members of the military and veterans from engaging the justice system to demand accountability and finally begin to heal.” “Servicemembers give up a lot to defend this country, but they should not have to give up their right to hold the government accountable when its negligence contributes to sexual assault or harassment. The Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act creates a narrow path for servicemembers and veterans to seek justice when the federal government failed to prevent or properly investigate abuse. Our brave men and women in uniform deserve real accountability, not excuses,” said Senator Kennedy. Under current law, the Feres doctrine prevents service members from suing the government for injuries incident to active-duty military service. Following the framework of the Major Richard Stayskal Act , which attempted to combat the Feres doctrine’s limitations on service member’s medical malpractice claims, the Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act would carve out an exception allowing service members to seek justice where the government is proven to have failed to prevent, investigate or otherwise committed a wrongful or negligent action that contributed to sexual misconduct. A copy of the bill text can be read HERE . The Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act has been endorsed by Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) and Protect Our Defenders. "Service Women's Action Network (SWAN) strongly supports Senator Shaheen’s legislation to create a meaningful path to accountability for survivors of military sexual trauma. Service members deserve protection, transparency, and recourse when institutions fail to prevent or properly investigate sexual misconduct. Survivors deserve a process that recognizes their experiences, supports healing, and reinforces trust in the institutions they serve. This bill is an important step toward ensuring service members have the protections and recourse they need," said SWAN Policy Director Rita Graham. “I represent dozens of survivors of military sexual assault. The Feres Doctrine creates almost insurmountable legal challenges and prevents my clients and all active-duty military from bringing civil claims to hold the military accountable. This bill will be life changing for military sexual assault survivors and will finally allow them an avenue towards justice,” said Christine Dunn, Partner and Victim Advocate at Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight. Shaheen has championed efforts in the Senate to respond to and address sexual assault in the military. In the FY26 NDAA , she secured requirements to improve sexual assault prevention and response (SAPR) training in the National Guard. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, she played a role in the adoption of historic reforms to the Uniform Code of Military Justice to address sexual assault in the military, including taking those offenses out of a service member’s chain of command. ###
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(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a senior member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee , and John Kennedy (R-LA) are introducing new bipartisan legislation that would help service members who have experienced sexual assault or harassment while serving in the military seek justice and accountability. The Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act would allow service members and veterans to bring civil claims against the United States for negligence that contributed to military sexual trauma over the course of their service. “In recent years, Congress has taken meaningful steps to help empower service members to report instances of sexual assault and harassment, but in order to build on that progress and root out the negligence that has allowed for sexual harassment and assault to thrive in our military, survivors must be able to pursue every possible avenue for legal recourse,” said Senator Shaheen. “It makes no sense that civilians can seek justice from the government when the warriors who have sacrificed everything to protect our nation cannot. Our landmark legislation would right this wrong by tearing down the barriers that prevent members of the military and veterans from engaging the justice system to demand accountability and finally begin to heal.” “Servicemembers give up a lot to defend this country, but they should not have to give up their right to hold the government accountable when its negligence contributes to sexual assault or harassment. The Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act creates a narrow path for servicemembers and veterans to seek justice when the federal government failed to prevent or properly investigate abuse. Our brave men and women in uniform deserve real accountability, not excuses,” said Senator Kennedy. Under current law, the Feres doctrine prevents service members from suing the government for injuries incident to active-duty military service. Following the framework of the Major Richard Stayskal Act , which attempted to combat the Feres doctrine’s limitations on service member’s medical malpractice claims, the Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act would carve out an exception allowing service members to seek justice where the government is proven to have failed to prevent, investigate or otherwise committed a wrongful or negligent action that contributed to sexual misconduct. A copy of the bill text can be read HERE . The Military Sexual Trauma Accountability Act has been endorsed by Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN). "Service Women's Action Network (SWAN) strongly supports Senator Shaheen’s legislation to create a meaningful path to accountability for survivors of military sexual trauma. Service members deserve protection, transparency, and recourse when institutions fail to prevent or properly investigate sexual misconduct. Survivors deserve a process that recognizes their experiences, supports healing, and reinforces trust in the institutions they serve. This bill is an important step toward ensuring service members have the protections and recourse they need," said SWAN Policy Director Rita Graham. “I represent dozens of survivors of military sexual assault. The Feres Doctrine creates almost insurmountable legal challenges and prevents my clients and all active-duty military from bringing civil claims to hold the military accountable. This bill will be life changing for military sexual assault survivors and will finally allow them an avenue towards justice,” said Christine Dunn, Partner and Victim Advocate at Sanford Heisler Sharp McKnight. Shaheen has championed efforts in the Senate to respond to and address sexual assault in the military. In the FY26 NDAA , she secured requirements to improve sexual assault prevention and response (SAPR) training in the National Guard. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, she played a role in the adoption of historic reforms to the Uniform Code of Military Justice to address sexual assault in the military, including taking those offenses out of a service member’s chain of command. ###
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