The Central Intelligence Agency announced Thursday that it was taking steps to make it easier for personnel to report allegations of sexual harassment and abuse, after several female employees told Congress earlier this year that the agency had discouraged women from complaining about sexual misconduct in the workplace.
“We need to change our processes,” the official said. “The feedback I hear is, it’s not working.”
In addition to a confusing bureaucracy, agency personnel have faced uncertainty about whether to report allegations of assault to law enforcement, the official said.
It is the agency’s policy that personnel are free to report alleged crimes to law enforcement authorities without checking with the CIA first, and they will receive support, including on how to navigate concerns around sensitive matters, such as filing complaints that may involve people serving in undercover assignments, the official said.
The agency has appointed a civilian Navy official, Taleeta Jackson, to oversee its Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office, the official said. Jackson, a psychologist, has led a similar office at the Navy. The CIA also will establish a new task force to examine internal reporting structures. It will be advised by a group of outside experts with experience handling allegations of abuse, the official said.
CIA Director William J. Burns said in a statement that the agency had “no higher priority than taking care of our people,” promising that officials would “systematically” address concerns that have been raised following the complaints to Congress and during the agency’s own review.
“More reforms will be coming. We must get this right,” Burns said.
The CIA official said the agency would also take steps to ensure that senior managers are aware that the people they supervise have been disciplined for sexual misconduct. In some instances, CIA officers have been moved or promoted into new jobs, but their superiors weren’t informed of their past behavior, the official said.
At the request of the Senate Intelligence Committee, the CIA’s inspector general is investigating allegations of sexual misconduct by agency employees and the response, the official said.
“Sexual harassment is unacceptable in any workplace. The Senate Intelligence Committee will continue to be watching this closely,” Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), the committee chairman, said in a statement.
The House Intelligence Committee also is conducting its own investigation.
“Sexual assault and sexual harassment have no place in the Intelligence Community,” Reps. Michael R. Turner (R-Ohio) and Jim Himes (D-Conn.) said in a joint statement. “We must protect our men and women bravely serving our country and punish the individuals who commit assaults. We appreciate the CIA’s willingness to work with the House Intelligence Committee and their commitment to implementing meaningful changes within the agency that address this serious matter.”
The CIA official didn’t offer a precise number of how many women had come forward with allegations. At least three female CIA employees had approached the House committee since January, according to Politico, which first reported the committee’s investigation into whether the CIA had mishandled its response to allegations by personnel.
“Once case is too many,” the official added.