Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday morning his intention to dismantle the Department of Defense’s (DoD) implementation of the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) program, sparking immediate backlash and raising questions about the administration’s stance on women’s roles in national security.
In a statement released via social media, Hegseth described the WPS program as a “woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative” that “overburdens our commanders and troops — distracting from our core task: WAR-FIGHTING.” He further characterized the program as a United Nations initiative pushed by “feminists and left-wing activists,” claiming that while politicians favor it, “troops HATE it.”
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“DoD will hereby execute the minimum of WPS required by statute, and fight to end the program for our next budget. GOOD RIDDANCE WPS!” Hegseth declared.
However, Hegseth’s statements have been met with swift and pointed criticism, notably due to the program’s origins and bipartisan support.
The Women, Peace, and Security Act was signed into law in 2017 during the first Trump administration, with significant support from the President himself.
The legislation, spearheaded by then-Representative Kristi Noem (now Secretary of Homeland Security) and co-sponsored by then-Senator Marco Rubio (now Secretary of State), aimed to integrate women’s perspectives and participation in conflict prevention, resolution, and post-conflict stabilization.
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The 2017 legislation directed the State, Defense, and Homeland Security departments to implement the WPS strategy, and in 2019, the Trump administration released a comprehensive strategy to further its goals. This included promoting women’s meaningful inclusion in processes to prevent, mitigate, resolve, and recover from deadly conflict or disaster.
Furthermore, Trump himself has touted the initiative on his 2024 presidential campaign website, listing it among his accomplishments benefiting women.
The contradiction between Hegseth’s statements and the program’s history is sure to spark criticism from lawmakers and advocacy groups.
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Secretary Rubio recently highlighted the legislation at a State Department event attended by First Lady Melania Trump, emphasizing its significance as the first comprehensive law of its kind globally.
Hegseth’s assertion that the program distracts from “war-fighting” has also been challenged, with proponents arguing that integrating women’s perspectives strengthens national security by providing a more comprehensive understanding of conflict dynamics.
As social media exploded with criticism, Hegseth added on X, “The woke & weak Biden Administration distorted & weaponized the straight-forward & security-focused WPS initiative launched in 2017. So—yes—we are ending the ‘woke divisive/social justice/Biden (WPS) initiative.” Biden ruined EVERYTHING, including “Women, Peace & Security.”
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