News Blog

GILLIBRAND APPLAUDS BIDEN ORDER OVERTURNING BAN ON TRANSGENDER MILITARY SERVICE

Jan 25 2021

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Biden administration announced an executive order overturning a Trump-era rule that barred additional transgender people from serving openly in...

Biden Secretary of Defense Nominee Lloyd Austin Asked About POD Pledge

Jan 21 2021

Washington, D.C. – At his Senate confirmation hearings on January 19, 2021 President Biden’s Defense Secretary nominee Lloyd Austin was...

Celebrate Survivor Heroes

Jan 18 2021

Watch a panel of survivors discuss their experiences… with a special surprise at the end.

Survivors Speak Out About the Work of Protect Our Defenders

Jan 17 2021

Hear what survivors of military sexual assault have to say about Protect Our Defenders. Donate to POD here.

STATEMENT SUPREME COURT RULES MILITARY RAPE CASES HAVE NO STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN 8-0 VERDICT

Dec 10 2020

Washington, DC –Today, in a 8-0 decision regarding U.S. v Briggs, the United States Supreme Court voted that a five-year statute of limitations does not...

DECLARACIÓN LA INVESTIGACIÓN DE FORT HOOD ENCUENTRA UNA CULTURA “PERMISIVA” DE AGRESIÓN Y ACOSO SEXUAL; 14 LÍDERES DEL EJÉRCITO DESPEDIDOS O SUSPENDIDOS

Dec 09 2020

Washington, DC – Hoy, una investigación independiente sobre una serie de muertes en Fort Hood en los últimos meses, incluido...

STATEMENT FT. HOOD INVESTIGATION FINDS “PERMISSIVE” CULTURE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT; 14 ARMY LEADERS FIRED OR SUSPENDED

Dec 08 2020

Washington, DC – Today, an independent investigation into a number of deaths at Fort Hood in recent months, including the tragic murder of Vanessa Guillén,...

Gillibrand Statement on Army’s Report on Command Culture at Fort Hood

Dec 08 2020

Washington, DC – Addressing the release of the Fort Hood Independent Review Committee’s (FHIRC) report, which found significant failures with how the Army...

STATEMENT PROTECT OUR DEFENDERS FILES AMICUS BRIEF BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT TO OVERTURN THE FERES DOCTRINE; PROVIDE PATH TO JUSTICE FOR SERVICEMEMBERS

Dec 02 2020

Washington, DC – Protect Our Defenders (POD), the national organization dedicated to ending the epidemic of sexual assault and racial disparity in the...

Vice News: The U.S. military is facing its own #MeToo moment

Nov 20 2020

“Rape in the military is a huge problem. President-elect Joe Biden has promised to take a hard line, saying he’ll support...

Speier, Gillibrand Demand Explanation for Delayed Investigation Into Allegations of Sexual Harassment Against Former Navy Auditor General

Nov 19 2020

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), Chair of the House Military Personnel Subcommittee, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), ranking member of...

STATEMENT EXCLUSIVE CBS SERIES DIVES DEEP INTO MILITARY SEXUAL ASSAULT DOCUMENTING PENTAGON’S CONTINUED REFUSAL TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC PROBLEM

Nov 17 2020

Washington, DC – Tonight, CBS Evening News will launch a four-part investigative series that details a year-and-a-half long investigation into the epidemic of sexual assault...

KERA News: Military Justice Reformers Pushing Senate Candidates To Pledge To Support Guillén Bill

Oct 08 2020

Published by KERA News (PBS & NPR affiliate for North Texas), by Bret Jaspers. LISTEN: The legislation would remove sexual...

* PRESS RELEASE * Protect Our Defenders & Military Sexual Assault Survivors Announce Launch of 2020 Senate Candidate Pledge to Help End Crisis of Military Sexual Assault

Oct 08 2020

Washington, DC – Protect Our Defenders (POD), the only national organization solely dedicated to ending the epidemic of rape and sexual assault in...

MEDIA ADVISORY SUPREME COURT TO ADDRESS RAPE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN THE #METOO ERA ON OCTOBER 13TH

Oct 05 2020

Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, October 13th, the Supreme Court will hear US v. Briggs, an appeal from the Justice Department to review...

DECLARACIÓN CONGRESO PRESENTA EL PROYECTO DE LEY BIPARTDISTA YO SOY VANESSA GUILLÉN PARA TRANSFORMAR LA RESPUESTA DE LOS MILITARES A LA VIOLENCIA SEXUAL Y A LOS MIEMBROS DESAPARECIDOS

Sep 16 2020

Washington, DC – Hoy, la congresista Jackie Speier, presidenta del Subcomité de Personal Militar de los Servicios Armados de la...

STATEMENT CONGRESS INTRODUCES BIPARTISAN I AM VANESSA GUILLÉN ACT TO TRANSFORM MILITARY’S RESPONSE TO SEXUAL VIOLENCE AND MISSING SERVICEMEMBERS

Sep 16 2020

Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA), Chair of the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee, introduced the bipartisan I Am Vanessa...

Speier, Brown, Cisneros, Crow, Escobar, Gallego, Haaland, Trahan Urge NDAA Conferees to Retain Provisions to Address Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment, and Domestic Violence in the Military

Sep 14 2020

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14), Chair of the House Armed Services Military Personnel Subcommittee; and Reps. Anthony Brown (MD-4),...

Speier, Smith, Gillibrand, Reed Call for GAO Review of Procedures to Respond to Missing Servicemembers

Aug 28 2020

Washington, D.C. – This morning, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel; Congressman Adam Smith...

Speier, Gillibrand Renew Call for Investigation Into SPC Guillén’s Disappearance, Ft Hood Command Climate

Aug 26 2020

Washington, D.C. – Yesterday, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand...