Defense Secretary Hegseth Ends Pentagon's Women, Peace and Security Program
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the termination of the Pentagon’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) program, calling it a ‘woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative.’
In a bold move, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared on Tuesday that he has ‘proudly ended’ the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) program at the Pentagon. Originally signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2017, Hegseth criticized the program as a ‘woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative’ that he believes distracts military personnel from their primary focus on war-fighting. Hegseth’s decision to end the program, which he claims is pushed by feminists and left-wing activists, was shared via a post on X, where he stated the department would only comply with the minimum legal requirements of WPS while lobbying to fully eliminate it in the next budget.
The announcement has stirred controversy, especially considering that key members of Trump’s administration, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and national security advisor Mike Waltz, have previously supported and helped develop the WPS Act. The program, implemented across various departments in 2019, aims to recognize the diverse roles women play in preventing and resolving conflict, countering terrorism, and building post-conflict peace and stability.
Hegseth later clarified his stance, stating that his criticism was directed at the Biden administration’s handling of the initiative, which he claims distorted and weaponized the original security-focused intent of the WPS program. The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment on the matter. As Hegseth vows to undo the WPS program, the future of women’s participation in peace and security efforts within the U.S. military remains uncertain.