tours at the pentagon

Pentagon Tours: Reservations, Parking, and Visiting Tips

The Pentagon, the headquarters of the Department of Defense, is one of the world's largest office buildings with about 6,500,000 sq ft. providing office space and amenities for more than 23,000 employees, both military and civilian. The building has five sides, five floors above ground, two basement levels, and a total of 17.5 miles of corridors. Guided tours are given by military personnel and are available by reservation only. Pentagon tours last for approximately one hour and provide an overview of the mission of the Department of Defense and the four branches of the military: Navy, Air Force, Army, and Marine Corps.

The outdoor Pentagon Memorial that commemorates the 9/11 attacks is open to the public with no reservations required. It is not included in the guided tour.

Arranging a Tour

To take a guided tour of the Pentagon, you must make a reservation in advance . Tours are conducted Monday through Thursday from 10 am to 3 pm and Fridays between 12 pm and 4 pm. Reservations must be booked from 14 to 90 days in advance. U.S. citizens can reserve a tour online, but foreign residents must contact their embassy to reserve a tour. All visitors must pass through a security scanning device and no photography will be allowed on the tour. You must arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled tour and bring along your confirmed reservation letter and photo identification.

Getting to the Pentagon

The Pentagon is located off of I-395 on the Virginia side of the Potomac River. The best way to get to the Pentagon is by Metrorail and the Visitor Center is located next to the Pentagon Metro Station.

There is no public parking at the Pentagon, but visitors may park at the Pentagon City Mall and walk to the entrance through a pedestrian tunnel. If you are not familiar with the area, it can be confusing, so be sure to leave plenty of time to find your way to the Visitor Center.

The tunnel is located across the street from Macy’s on the far side of the Reserved Parking Lot. Once through the tunnel, walk to the right until you see signs for the Metro Station and the Visitor Center. (When leaving, note that the tunnel is at the far end of parking Lane 7).

Major Points of Interest on the Pentagon Tour

The Pentagon is a building with a long and significant history with many points of interest you won't find anywhere else in Washington DC.

• The Hall of Heroes: includes the names of all the recipients of the Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government.
• Overlord Embroidery: 34 tapestries created by Sandra Lawrence depict the story of the Allied invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944.
• Faces of the Fallen Memorial: an exhibit features individual portraits in honor of the service men and women killed in Afghanistan and Iraq.
• POW-MIA Corridor: the exhibit recognizes United States military personnel taken as prisoners of war (POWs) or listed as missing in action (MIA).
• Soldiers and Signers of the Constitution Corridor: numerous paintings in this corridor commemorate the signing of the Declaration of Independence and portray the founding fathers of our nation.
• 9/11 Memorial and Chapel: commemorates those killed in the terrorist attack at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. The indoor memorial displays the names of the 184 victims. The chapel provides space for prayer and remembrance.
• 9/11 Memorial Quilts: project initiated by Jeannie Ammermann to honor those killed on September 11, 2001 evolved into a multi-quilt project that drew volunteer quilters from all parts of the U.S.
• Pentagon Center Courtyard: 5.5 acres of outdoor space in the interior of the building includes food concessions and casual seating areas.

Visiting Tips

As you get ready for your tour, here are some tips to make sure the experience goes as smoothly as possible and you get the most out of it.

• Although, the Pentagon recommends you arrive 15 minutes before your tour, plan to arrive 30 minutes early to allow time to go through security.
• The best time to take the tour is mid-day when transportation to the Pentagon is less congested.
• The tour includes walking a distance of about one and a half miles through the Pentagon corridors and staircases, so wear comfortable clothing and shoes.
• Be sure to visit the Pentagon Memorial after your guided tour of the Pentagon. It won't be included in your tour.
• Enjoy a casual lunch at the Pentagon City Mall before or after your tour. The mall has one of the nicest food courts in the area and more than 170 specialty shops.

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Ultimate Guide to the Pentagon

One of the largest office buildings in the world, the Pentagon serves as the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense. A symbol of American military strength, the concrete and steel building is recognized around the world. Nearly 30,000 military and civilian personnel work inside the Pentagon each day. Covering approximately 6.5 million square feet, the building contains a food court and mini-shopping mall. Because of its size, the Pentagon has six ZIP codes. It uses the place identifier for Washington, DC even though the five-sided building is actually located in Arlington, Virginia .

The Building

The famous edifice has five rings, five floors above ground and two floors below ground. There are almost 18 miles of corridors. Despite its size, the layout of the hallways and interconnecting walkways enables an individual to reach any office in less than seven minutes. The rings are labeled “A” through “E” from the interior courtyard to the outside. Because the E-ring is the only one with exterior views, it is the location for offices of the most senior officials. The five-acre courtyard park is nicknamed Ground Zero. The term was inspired by the belief that the park would be a primary target for Soviet nuclear missiles during the Cold War. The Pentagon is twice the size of the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. The U.S. Capitol would fit in just one of the building’s five wings.

The Northern Mall Terrace façade features a portico that leads to a 600-foot-long terrace that is used for various official ceremonies. The portico of the River Entrance façade overlooks a lagoon and a landing point. The dock was once used by duty boats that transported service members across the Potomac River to Bolling Air Force Base. The main visitor entrance, the Concourse Entrance façade, is the location of the Pentagon Metro stop. The other two facades are known as the Helipad and South Parking entrances. The site of numerous anti-war protests over the years, the Pentagon was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

History of the Pentagon

During World War I, the War Department was housed in a variety of permanent and temporary buildings in and around Washington, DC. In the late 1930s, a new headquarters was constructed in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood. This building soon proved inadequate. It is currently used by the State Department. With the rapid expansion of the War Department during World War II, Secretary of War Henry Stimson lobbied President Franklin Roosevelt for a large permanent office building. In 1941, it was agreed that a new large office building would be constructed in Arlington. The original site selected for construction was the pentagon-shaped Arlington Farms, a temporary housing complex for female civil servants operated by the Department of Agriculture.

When concerns arose that the new building might obstruct views of Washington , DC from Arlington National Cemetery, the construction site was moved to the former Hoover Field Airport. To keep costs down, the building’s pentagon-shape design plans were retained. The configuration was reminiscent of the star-shaped forts built during the gunpowder age. To reduce the amount of steel used, architects incorporated ramps rather than elevators in the building. Steel was in short supply and needed for the war effort. The exterior façade is adorned with Indiana limestone. Architectural, design and construction work were accomplished simultaneously, and the building was constructed in sections to save time. Colonel Leslie Groves who later oversaw the Manhattan Project as a general officer, supervised the work on the Pentagon. The building cost slightly more than $31.1 million to complete in 1943.

During construction, segregation laws in Virginia required separate rest room facilities for blacks and whites. As a result, the Pentagon has a higher ratio of rest rooms for its occupants than most similar size office buildings. It was the only public building in Arlington with segregated rest rooms until 1965. On Sept. 11, 2001, American Airlines Flight 77 struck the western side of the Pentagon killing 189 people. Although approximately one-third of the building was damaged, the repairs were completed by the anniversary of the attack. The repairs were incorporated into a larger ongoing renovation program that was completed in 2011, which brought the Pentagon up to standards required for modern office buildings.

Must See Exhibits

More than 100,000 people visit the Pentagon each year. A 60-minute guided tour highlights the history of the building and the Department of Defense. Covering approximately 1.5 miles, the guided tour includes the Hall of Heroes, which honors America’s Medal of Honor recipients, as well as an exhibit dedicated to prisoners of war and those missing in action. You will also see numerous portraits of the country’s founding fathers and a painting depicting the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

While at the Pentagon, guests can also see the National 9-11 Pentagon Memorial. Situated on the west side of the building, the memorial is dedicated to those who lost their lives that fateful day. The 2-acre park features illuminated benches engraved with the names of the victims, memorial pools and a wall ranging from 3 inches to 71 inches in height to represent the ages of the youngest and oldest victims. There are also 85 paperbark maple trees. Open seven days a week, it is the only place on the Pentagon grounds where photography is permitted.

There is also a burial marker in nearby Arlington National Cemetery . It marks the grave of the 184 victims of the attack on the Pentagon. Located in Section 64, the five-sided granite marker lists the names of those who perished on the plane and inside the Pentagon.

The Pentagon parking lots are used as the staging point for a number of annual events. These include Rolling Thunder, a gathering of motorcycle enthusiasts showing support for America’s prisoners of war and missing in action, the Army Ten-Miler and the Marine Corps Marathon.

Know Before You Go

You must make reservations for the guided tour at least 14 but not more than 90 days in advance. Tours are offered Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. except on federal holidays. Visitors 18 and older require a valid government-issued photo ID. The tour starts at the visitor center just to the left, inside the Pentagon Metro entrance. Arrive at least an hour before your scheduled tour to pass through security. The Metro stop is on the Blue and Yellow lines. The Pentagon does not have public parking.

Nearby Attractions

Arlington National Cemetery is the location for the Tomb of the Unknowns and the gravesite of President John F. Kennedy along with numerous other monuments and memorials. It is also the burial ground for many famous Americans and war heroes, including Audie Murphy, Abner Doubleday and Joe Louis. There are monuments and memorials to the space shuttles Challenger and Columbia as well as Women in the Military Service, Pan Am Flight 103 and Spanish American War Nurses.

Formerly known as Columbia Island, Lady Bird Johnson Park includes scenic walking and driving paths, colorful plantings and blooming trees that provide vivid Spring and Fall foliage. There are overlooks and picnic areas as well. The park also features the Lyndon Baines Johnson Memorial Grove and the Navy and Marine Memorial. The Mount Vernon Trail passes through the park.

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Questions about the pentagon memorial.

• Who designed the Pentagon Memorial? Keith Kasemen and Julie Beckman
• How was the final design selected? A worldwide competition. There was a jury made up of highly respected design professionals, family members, and Washington dignitaries, including two former Secretaries of Defense. The winners were announced March 3, 2003.
• When was the ground breaking? June 15, 2006
• When was the Memorial dedicated? September 11, 2008
• What is the cost of the Memorial? The Memorial cost $22 million to construct. The Pentagon Memorial Fund is continuing to raise money for a preservation endowment and educational outreach opportunities.
• What is the size of the Pentagon Memorial? Approximately two acres
• Is there handicapped parking? Where? There are five parking spaces for automobiles for people with disabilities available in Lane 1 of the Pentagon South Parking lot, adjacent to the Memorial Park. This parking is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. All vehicles utilizing this parking shall display a valid disabled parking permit issued by the state in which the vehicle is registered.
• Where can visitors park? Private Vehicle: Parking on the Pentagon Reservation is for AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY. Private vehicles may off load and pick up passengers at the North Rotary Road Kiss and Drop points, but they must move on and cannot park or stand at these locations. Parking regulations are strictly enforced at the Pentagon.Metered parking is available on the streets of Crystal City and Pentagon City and for a fee in the Fashion Center at Pentagon City Mall.Evenings, Saturday, Sunday & Holidays: The Hayes Street Parking lot is available on weekdays from 5:00 pm – 7:00 am, and all day on Saturday, Sunday and holidays (NOTE: OVERNIGHT PARKING IS PROHIBITED). There is no tour bus parking and idling on the Pentagon Reservation. Tour bus pick-up/drop off is located at the Hayes Street Lot.
• How do I get to the Memorial? Public Access to the Pentagon Memorial: The Memorial is accessible to the general public by Metro, private vehicle, and bus. However, due to parking constraints, the public is urged to use Metro as the primary means to come to the Pentagon and the Pentagon Memorial. Metro:  The Blue and Yellow lines of Metro serve the Pentagon from the Pentagon Metro stop. There are also many bus routes that stop at the Pentagon Metro Transit Center. From there, you may walk to the Pentagon Memorial. You may also use the Pentagon City Metro stop and walk to the Pentagon Memorial. The Arlington Cemetery Metro Stop may be another option for tourists wishing to visit the September 11 group marker at the cemetery and the Pentagon Memorial.
• When is the Memorial open? The Pentagon Memorial is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
• Are there restrooms available for visitors? Yes. The restrooms are open daily from 7:00 am – 10:00 pm.
• Can I leave a memento at the Memorial? Yes
• Can I eat or drink in the Pentagon Memorial? Due to sanitation concerns and vermin control, eating and drinking (except for water) in the Pentagon Memorial is not allowed.
• Can I bring my dog (pet)? Pets and other animals are not authorized on the Pentagon Reservation or inside the Memorial. Seeing-eye dogs, guide dogs, police working dogs, etc. are authorized entry while performing their intended service. Owners and handlers are asked to pick up after their animals.
• Can I take pictures at the Memorial? Photography is permitted within the Pentagon Memorial. However, consistent with current policy (32 CFR 234), photography is restricted at all other locations on the Reservation (i.e. pedestrian and vehicular pathways; drop-off areas).
• Can I smoke inside the Memorial? In order to minimize debris that may interfere with proper operation of the Memorial, we ask that visitors not smoke in the Memorial or the Gateway.
• Can tour groups go to the Pentagon Memorial? Yes
• Who is responsible for maintaining (picking up trash, cleaning the benches, etc.) the Memorial? Washington Headquarters Services (WHS) manages the maintenance of the Memorial.  The Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA) provides security.

Questions About The Pentagon Building

• When was the Pentagon constructed? How long did it take to build? Construction began on September 11, 1941 and was completed in the remarkably short time of sixteen months on January 15, 1943. The building rests on 41,492 concrete columns. The shortages of materials required for war production raised many design and construction problems. The use of reinforced concrete in lieu of formed steel for the building made possible a saving of 43,000 tons of steel, more than enough to build a battleship. The use of concrete ramps rather than elevators further reduced steel requirements. Drainage pipes were concrete, ducts were fiber, and interior doors were wood.
• How much did it cost to build the Pentagon? The original estimated cost of construction was $35,000,000.  The approximate actual cost was $86,000,000.
• What is the Pentagon? Headquarters of the Department of Defense, the Pentagon is the world's largest low-rise office building.
• Why was the Pentagon a terrorist target? Since World War II, the Pentagon has stood as a symbol of American power and influence to the nation and the world. By September 11, 2001, it had been the command center of the nation’s military establishment for more than half a century. In some regions of the world, particularly in the Middle East, a U.S. military presence and perceived power would have made the Pentagon an object of fear and hatred, and a likely target of attack by terrorist enemies.
• What was the significance of the Pentagon’s renovation project on the area that the plane hit? In 1990, Congress authorized a complete overhaul of the Pentagon. Upgrading security stood high on the list for the reconstruction and renovation of the building, which began in 1998 with Wedge 1. By September 2001, Wedge 1 had been largely reoccupied and work was under way on adjacent Wedge 2, which had been cleared of all but about 700 occupants. On September 11, the offices in or near the impact point were not completely occupied, either awaiting new tenants in Wedge 1 or mostly vacated in preparation for renovation in Wedge 2. Had the aircraft hit fully-occupied unrenovated Wedge 5, several hundred yards to the right, the toll of dead and injured, as well as structural damage, would have been much greater.
• How did the structure of the Pentagon play a role on September 11? Although never designed to offer the protection of a bunker, the building's steel-reinforced concrete and brick construction protected most employees in Wedges 1 and 2 from fires and explosions, which saved their lives. Moreover, the rigidity of the Pentagon’s façade caused some of the fuel in the wings to detonate on impact, diminishing the inside destruction. The lighter structure and largely glass facade of the World Trade Center buildings presented much less impact resistance.
• Where is the Pentagon Memorial located? The Pentagon Memorial is located at 1 Rotary Road on the Pentagon Reservation in Arlington, Virginia. The mailing address is: Pentagon Memorial ATTN: Pentagon Building Management Office Room 2E1040, Pentagon Washington, DC 20301-1155
• How big is the Pentagon? The Pentagon is a five-sided, five-story (plus two basements) building containing a large central courtyard and five concentric rings of offices. It is twice the size of the Merchandise Mart in Chicago, and has three times the floor space of the Empire State Building in New York. The U.S. Capitol building could fit into any one of the five wedge-shaped sections. Despite 17 1/2 miles of corridors, it takes only seven minutes to walk between any two points in the building.
• How many people work at the Pentagon? There are approximately 24,000 employees, both military and civilian.
• Where are the interior memorial and chapel located? They are located at the end of Corridor 4 on the first floor, across from the Pentagon Memorial.
• How can I arrange a tour of the Pentagon or visit the interior memorial and chapel? All guided tours of the Pentagon are free and are available to schools, educational organizations and other select groups by reservation only. Tours are conducted Monday through Friday during normal working hours. Tours are not conducted on weekends or federal holidays. Groups interested in touring the Pentagon should contact the Pentagon Tour Office at 703-697-1776. Additional information can be found on the Internet at http://pentagon.afis.osd.mil/
• How long did it take to rebuild the damaged area? The Pentagon Renovation and Construction Program Office (PENREN) began the Phoenix Project on October 18, 2001, so named because of its representation of the mythical bird rising from the ashes. Reducing the schedule of the original Wedge 1 renovation, the impacted portions of the Pentagon were demolished, rebuilt, and occupied in less than one year. The offices directly above the point of impact were occupied on August 15, 2002, 28 days ahead of schedule.

Questions About The General Area

• Where is the Pentagon victim’s marker in Arlington Cemetery? It is located in Section 64, near the Arlington Cemetery Columbarium.
• How do I get to Arlington National Cemetery? Driving: About 2.5 miles away Take ramp onto I-395 South Take exit 8B to merge onto VA-110 North toward I-66 Take the exist toward Washington Turn left at Memorial Drive/ The Esplanade
• How do I get to the Air Force Memorial? Driving: About 2.4 miles away Take ramp onto VA-27 South Exit onto Columbia Pike / VA-244 Destination will be on the right
• How do I get to Pentagon City Mall / Crystal City? Driving: About 1.7 miles away Take VA-110 South Take the I-395/US-1 exit Slight right at Army Navy Drive Turn left at S Hayes Stret Destination will be on the right Pentagon City Mall 1100 S Hayes St Arlington, VA 22202Metro: From Washington, D.C., take the Blue line toward Franconia-Springfield OR the Yellow line toward Huntington Pentagon City is one metro stop from the Pentagon, and Crystal City is two stops from the Pentagon
• Where is the Arlington County bike path? Next to the Pentagon Memorial Gateway

David B Gleason

Can I Tour the Pentagon?

The pentagon memorial is open to all visitors, and public tours inside the pentagon are available to us citizens with advance reservation..

Yes, but public tours inside the Pentagon are available to US citizens only with advance reservations. The Pentagon Memorial is open to all visitors.

How to tour the Pentagon

The Pentagon, located just outside Washington, DC in Arlington, Va., is the headquarters for the United States Department of Defense. It is open for official tours through the  Pentagon Tours program .

Pentagon tours must be reserved at least 14 days in advance and no more than 90 days in advance. Tours are conducted Tuesdays and Thursdays (excluding federal holidays) at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tours fill up quickly and it is highly recommended that you book well in advance of your visit. You can make a tour request online . International visitors must request a tour through their home country’s embassy.

Individuals who have a Pentagon badge and escort privileges are permitted to give a self-guided tours to friends or family. If you are assigned to the Pentagon or if you are visiting a Pentagon staff member, contact the Pentagon Force Protection Agency at (703) 697-1001 to determine escort status.

Nighttime at the National 9/11 Pentagon Memorial in Virginia

Touring the Pentagon

Tours are 60 minutes and cover about 1.5 miles inside the Pentagon, which is one of the largest office buildings in the world. Tours include the history of the four branches of the military and the opportunity to see the indoor memorial near the Sept. 11 crash site and the Sept. 11 Memorial chapel, as well as the Hall of Heroes (featuring the names of all the Medal of Honor recipients) and a number of other military displays.

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Parking, security and accessibility

There is no public parking at The Pentagon. The Pentagon can be reached via its own dedicated Metro stop on the Blue and Yellow lines or you may choose to park at Pentagon City Mall and make the five-minute walk to the Pentagon via pedestrian tunnel. Once you’ve arrived, check in at the Pentagon Tours window near the Metro entrance.

Visitors must check-in at least 60 minutes prior to their scheduled tour to allow time for security. You will be asked to present your tour confirmation email and photo ID. All visitors will go through security scanners. All purses are subject to search. Large bags, including backpacks, shopping bags and camera bags are NOT permitted on the tour. Cell phone, cameras, recording devices and other electronic devices cannot be used on the tour and no photography is permitted inside the building.

Ramps are available for visitors with disabilities. Tour visitors in wheelchairs must bring someone who can assist them on the tour.  A signer will be added to tours to assist hearing impaired visitors provided that two weeks' notice is given. Special tours for visually impaired visitors can also be arranged with two weeks' notice.

There are so many great tours and sightseeing opportunities in Washington, DC. Discover  your next tour adventure .

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The Pentagon — located across the river from Washington, D.C. in Arlington, Virginia — is more than a power center assigned to the defense of the nation. It’s a small city in itself. About 23,000 military and civilian employees work here, walking 17.5 miles of corridors, drinking 4,500 cups of coffee, and making more than 200,000 telephone calls. The World War II-era building is one of the world’s largest, with three times the floor space of the Empire State Building.

So, other than smartly dressed officers, what’s there to see at the Pentagon? Once you make a reservation through the office of your Congressional representative, our nation’s finest will escort you on a 60-minute tour that highlights significant moments in military history. Visitors can view the September 11 crash site and memorial; the Hall of Heroes, which lists all recipients of the Medal of Honor; and a display on the role of Native Americans in the U.S. military. Three sections of the dismantled Berlin Wall are also on view.

Make sure you’ve got your walking shoes on; the tour covers 1.5 miles at a brisk pace.

Travel Tips

If you’re not part of a formal group of at least five people, you’ll need to call or write your Congressional representative to request a Pentagon tour. Visit  www.house.gov or  www.senate.gov to find contact information for your local Representative or Senator. Non-U.S. citizens must contact their embassy in Washington, D.C.

Group tours are available for groups of five or more people affiliated with an educational institution, government agency, church, scout troop, or military unit. Reservations for group tours must be made at least two weeks in advance. See web site for details.

For more, visit:  https://pentagontours.osd.mil/overview.jsp

September 5, 2023 at 3:54 pm

I’ve always wanted to visit.

September 3, 2023 at 9:08 pm

Do I have to do the website for a tour or get in touch with my rep if it’s only 2 people. It let me put in info but then I read the website for requests are only for groups of 5 or more

April 6, 2016 at 10:17 am

Can we carry backpacks on the tour or is there a place to secure them during the tour? Our family will be traveling the East Coast in June and will really have no place for our backpacks.

June 3, 2013 at 1:16 am

My wife, stepson and I were not able to get a tour scheduled. Is it possible to visit the Pentagon outside and if so what points of interest are available for sightseeing and/or pictures?

June 3, 2013 at 5:06 pm

All visits to the Pentagon require a reservation for a tour. Also, there is no public parking at the Pentagon. See https://pentagontours.osd.mil/ for more information.

December 7, 2011 at 3:49 pm

Any information regarding the Army/Navy Spirit Rally on Friday, 12/9/2011 would be appreciated. May civilian parents of cadets attend, if the rally is outside the Pentagon building? I understand that we will not be able to enter the Pentagon for this event. Thank you and God Bless.

December 7, 2011 at 8:41 pm

I cannot find any details on who is allowed at the event. However, I am aware that it is scheduled for Friday morning at 11:15 a.m. Other game details can be found here .

July 8, 2011 at 7:24 pm

Hi, I am a little confused. Some things written above seem to indicate the Pentagon offers public tours M-F btn 9 and 3. Other comments indicate I can’t tour without having gone through Canada’s Embassy in Washington DC. It will just be my husband and I wanting a tour, so we are not part of a group. Please let me know exactly what I need to do in order to get a tour of the Pentagon. Thank you, Michelle

July 8, 2011 at 7:58 pm

According to the Pentagon web site, all tours require a reservation. If you are not a part of a group, you can make a reservation on the Pentagon web site tours page. U.S. Residents can also reserve a tour by contacting their Congressional or Senate Representative.

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Reports of sexual assaults in US military drop for first time in nearly a decade

A survey also found the number of service members who experienced some type of unwanted sexual contact dropped nearly 20%.

Reports of sexual assaults in the US military dropped for the first time in nearly a decade, according to a new Pentagon report released on Thursday, breaking what had been an upward trend in recent years.

A confidential survey also found the number of service members who experienced some type of unwanted sexual contact dropped nearly 20%, a reduction which left the Pentagon "cautiously optimistic" that its efforts to target sexual assault and harassment are beginning to show results.

7,266 service members reported a sexual assault in 2023, a decrease from 7,378 the previous year. Although the change is small, it is the first time the Defense Department has seen a decrease in the number of reports since 2015.

Meanwhile, an estimated 29,061 service members experienced some type of unwanted sexual contact, a dramatic decrease from an estimated 35,875 in 2021. These estimates come from a confidential survey conducted every two years to understand the wider prevalence of sexual harassment and sexual assault in the military. The decrease in the estimated prevalence of unwanted sexual contact was seen across all military services to varying degrees.

In a statement after the release of the report, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, "These early findings are encouraging, and I am grateful for the leadership of many across the Department who have committed the time and made the investments to produce these promising results."

The Pentagon acknowledged it is not completely clear why the numbers decreased.

"While it's impossible for us to know exactly why we're seeing this decrease in sexual assault prevalence, we are cautiously optimistic that the department's unprecedented investment is having an impact, particularly when it comes to our focus on prevention and building healthy climate," said Beth Foster, executive director of the Pentagon's Office of Force Resiliency.

Lloyd Austin made tackling what he called the "scourge" of sexual assault one of his top priorities when he came into the Pentagon at the beginning of the Biden administration.

In a recorded message for Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, Austin made clear his longstanding position. "The only acceptable number of sexual assaults is zero," he said late last month.

In 2021, Austin stood up an independent review commission to look at how best to address sexual assault and harassment within the military, ultimately taking major steps that fundamentally change how the military handles such cases.

"That work is starting to bend the curve," Foster said.

As of last December, sexual assault cases are now tried outside the chain of command, a move that critics of the military justice system had long advocated. Instead, they are handled by new offices of Special Trial Counsel within the services, a system designed to give more confidence for victims reporting sexual assault.

In fiscal year 2024, Austin committed more than $1 billion on efforts to reduce sexual assault and harassment, nearly doubling the funding from recent years, Foster said. The Pentagon believes the investment will help with recruiting and military readiness.

"We still have more to do," Austin said in his message. Austin approved all 82 recommendations from the Independent Review Commission on sexual assault and prevention, directing the Defense Department to implement the changes by fiscal year 2028.

The-CNN-Wire & 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.

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Heading to see the ‘ Guts ‘ World Tour is akin to catching a big summer blockbuster on the silver screen. It rolls into town, dominating discourse, and much of tonight’s key set-pieces and have already been shared – extensively – on social media feeds and Instagram’s For You tab since the tour kicked off in the US earlier this spring. The two exceptions are Olivia’s personalised messages on her white tank-top – “Bad idea, innit?” – and a brief wardrobe malfunction during ‘Love Is Embarrassing’; “I almost just flashed you! That’s so embarrassing,” she laughs at the song’s conclusion.

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Much like her pop contemporaries, Rodrigo’s shows offer a refuge from the outside pressures of the world, a message that resonates with her young crowd (and a few parents who relish the chance to show up their child on the big screen.) “If I was giving my 18 year-old advice,” she says, “it’d be to not worry so much.” This show thrives when it, in fact, worries way too much: opening gambit ‘Bad Idea, Right?’, ‘Ballad Of A Homeschooled Girl’ and ‘Brutal’ are lovingly neurotic, punchy and large in their arena-sized execution. ‘All-American Bitch’ flips the script from self-loathing to some well-deserved finger pointing at societal expectations for young women: “I don’t get angry when I’m pissed / I’m the eternal optimist”.

Hitting arenas on only your second album does come with drawbacks. There are a few too many deep cuts that don’t quite fill the room, though ‘Lacy’ and ‘Jealousy, Jealousy’ fare better than rest, as do debut album cuts ‘Traitor’ and ‘Favourite Crime’. The staging throughout is impressive and eye-catching, including a moment that features Rodrigo riding on the crescent of a large half-moon that’s suspended through the crowd. The general hue of purple throughout the venue – on sparkling cowboy hats and feather boas – could well have turned green with the envy at the core of breakup anthems ‘Good 4 U’ and ‘Deja Vu’, two undeniable highlights.

It’s the songs that pick at the deepest wounds that resonate with tonight’s crowd. ‘Vampire’’s stunning build from a piano ballad to jaunty clap-back to the people who should know better is one of many howl-along moments. The raw regret of ‘Drivers Licence’ brought her to this venue a few years ago, but now, it’s sung with both the lived experience and confidence that comes only from someone who’s moved on to even bigger and better things; there’s no denying that Rodrigo has certainly done that and will continue to do so.

Olivia Rodrigo played:

‘Bad Idea Right?’ ‘Ballad Of A Homeschooled Girl’ ‘Vampire’ ‘Traitor’ ‘Drivers License’ ‘Teenage Dream’ ‘Pretty Isn’t Pretty’ ‘Love Is Embarrassing’ ‘Making The Bed’ ‘Logical’ ‘Enough For You’ ‘Lacy’ ‘So American’ ‘Jealousy, Jealousy’ ‘Happier’ ‘Favorite Crime’ ‘Deja Vu’ ‘The Grudge’ ‘Brutal’ ‘Obsessed’ ‘All-American Bitch’ ‘Good 4 U’ ‘Get Him Back!’

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