Following Pervasive Reports of Sexual Abuse and Misconduct, Bicameral Leaders Seek GAO Review of JROTC Program

Washington, D.C. (May 2, 2023)—Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Accountability; Rep. Robert Garcia, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security the Border and Foreign Affairs; Reps. Stephen F. Lynch, Sylvia Garcia, and Chrissy M. Houlahan; along with U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Mazie Hirono, sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) urging the agency to conduct a comprehensive review of federal agencies and military services tasked with oversight of the Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) program.

"We write to respectfully request that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conduct an evaluation of the Department of Defense's (DOD), military services', and Department of Education's (ED) efforts to ensure the integrity of each service's Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) programs and protect JROTC cadets from exploitative practices and predatory instructors engaged in sexual abuse, harassment, and other misconduct," wrote the Members.

On August 15, 2022, then-Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney and then-Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, Rep. Stephen F. Lynch launched an investigation into the JROTC program following an alarming report from The New York Times detailing high rates of sexual misconduct and abuse within JROTC programs in high schools around the country. According to information released by the Subcommittee, 60 allegations of sexual abuse, harassment, or other sexual misconduct were made against JROTC instructors and reported to DOD and the military services over a five-year period, between 2017 and 2022—58 of which were substantiated following a law enforcement or school investigation.

On September 21, 2022, Sen. Elizabeth Warren led her Senate colleagues in requesting that DOD and ED provide information about the agencies' oversight of and Title IX authority over the JROTC program. Information subsequently obtained by the Senate Committee on Armed Services from ED, which also has jurisdiction over sexual abuse of high school students in the JROTC program, revealed that the agency only received three complaints over the past decade. ED confirmed that there is no process in place to receive reports of sexual misconduct while DOD officials conceded "there's very little oversight" of these programs overall and that there is no survey or public reporting on incidents of sexual assault.

"To assist us with our work, we request that GAO conduct an evaluation to review the extent to which DOD, the military services, and ED (1) collect and maintain data on incidents of sexual or other misconduct involving JROTC instructors; (2) have established policies to vet and periodically review the qualifications, credentials, and suitability of JROTC instructors; (3) have established policies to prevent and respond to allegations of sexual misconduct within JROTC; and (4) established mechanisms or processes to ensure appropriate oversight of the military services' respective JROTC programs," concluded the Members.

Click here to review today's letter to GAO.

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