The Women, Peace, and Security program was initiated in response to legislation signed by Trump on October 6, 2017, during his first term.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Tuesday that he is discontinuing a women’s leadership initiative introduced during President Donald Trump’s first term.
The program, run by the United Nations, has been characterized by the defense secretary as being “advocated by feminists and left-leaning activists.”
“This morning, I proudly ENDED the ‘Women, Peace & Security’ (WPS) program at the [Department of Defense],” Hegseth stated in a
post on X. “WPS is merely another divisive woke/social justice/Biden initiative that distracts our commanders and troops from their primary objective: WAR-FIGHTING.”
Hegseth remarked that while “politicians rave” about the program, military personnel “dislike” it.
The WPS program was established following the Women, Peace, and Security Act, signed into law by Trump on October 6, 2017. The Trump administration at that time
stated that it acknowledged women as vital agents in preventing and resolving conflicts, countering violent extremism, and fostering peace and stability.
The law, which was outlined by the U.N. Security Council and adopted in a
resolution back in 2000, has been supported over the years by
various Congressional members. The initiative was subsequently promoted by Ivanka Trump, daughter and former advisor to the president, after it was enacted into U.S. law.
Ivanka stated in a
June 2019 statement that effective defense policy necessitates the involvement and empowerment of women. She emphasized the critical underrepresentation of women in conflict resolution and post-conflict peacebuilding, noting that women account for only 2 percent of mediators, 3 percent of military personnel, and 9 percent of negotiators globally.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem co-sponsored the WPS Act while serving as a Congress member from South Dakota.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who co-authored the 2017 bill with then-Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.),
expressed on X that Hegseth’s recent action was “short-sighted.” She contested Hegseth’s claim that troops dislike the program, arguing it has support from military leadership and offers the country a strategic advantage.
Amy McGrath, the first woman to fly a combat mission in the Marine Corps, stated in a
post on X that the program led to greater inclusion of women in negotiations to resolve conflicts globally. McGrath asserted that including women promotes more sustainable peace.
Later on Tuesday, Hegseth seemed to
defend his decision on X, reaffirming his choice to eliminate the program. He suggested that the Biden administration “distorted and weaponized” the women’s initiative initially aimed to be “clear-cut and security-centered” from its 2017 inception. Hegseth did not provide further clarification on how Biden allegedly “ruined” the program.
Tuesday’s announcement is consistent with the Trump administration’s strategy to dismantle federal diversity initiatives across the government. This move also aligns with the Department of Government Efficiency’s objectives to reduce waste and prevent abuse.
Hegseth declared that he would “fight to eliminate the program in our next budget.” However, the Pentagon has not disclosed specific details about the program’s expenses.
From NTD News
