Service chiefs will weigh in on controversial plan to remove commanders’ control over sexual assault cases 18 hours ago Slain soldier Spc. Vanessa Guillen s family has said she didn t report sexual harassment because she believed her leadership would ignore it. An independent Pentagon commission has recommended that such cases be investigated outside the chain of command. (Godofredo A. Vásquez/Houston Chronicle via AP) Now that a Pentagon review commission has made the controversial recommendation to strip commanders of their authority to oversee sexual assault and harassments cases, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin wants to get feedback from top military leaders before making any final decisions about formal changes.