Inclusion of Women in the FY22 NDAA (P.L. 117-81)

Congress is currently discussing the inclusion of women in the current NDAA. Read our brief summary of specific references to the inclusion of women in the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2022 (NDAA, P.L. 117-81). The NDAA emphasizes attention to sexual and gender based violence in the U.S. military and creates a pilot program to assess barriers to women’s participation in partner nation defense and security forces based on the WPS Act.

The FY22 NDAA is making some important changes to the implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Act (P.L. 115-68):

• Requires Congressional briefing on the implementation status of the recommendations set forth in the report of the Independent Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the Military.
• Improves prosecution on how sexual harassment and assault within the U.S. military.
• Establishes WPS pilot program to support the implementation of the WPS Act of 2017.
• Requires a study of US Security Cooperation Programs focused on Afghanistan in accordance with the WPS Act of 2017
• Requires DEI data collection
• Authorizes professional development