Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that he has begun dismantling a Pentagon program designed to increase women’s roles in peace-building and conflict prevention, adding that he’s ‘proud’ to do so.
In a post on the social media platform X, Hegseth declared, “This morning, I proudly ENDED the ‘Women, Peace & Security’ (WPS) program inside the [Defense Department].” He criticized the program as “yet another woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative that overburdens our commanders and troops — distracting from our core task: WAR-FIGHTING.” He further described WPS as a “UNITED NATIONS program pushed by feminists and left-wing activists” and claimed that “troops HATE it.”
This program, however, was created by a law supported by both Democrats and Republicans and signed into law by President Trump during his first term, as quickly pointed out by X’s community notes.
Since the program is mandated by federal law, Hegseth cannot eliminate it outright. He explained that while the Pentagon will comply with the program’s minimum requirements, he intends to fight for its end during the next appropriations process.
Hegseth’s decision to end the program is notable because it was signed into law by President Trump in 2017. The law, the Women, Peace and Security Act, was championed by key figures in Trump’s current Cabinet, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both of whom supported the law when they were in Congress. The Trump administration even highlighted the initiative as one of its key accomplishments for women.
The 2017 law aimed to ensure that women play an active role in preventing and managing conflict, as well as in post-conflict recovery efforts. It required the Pentagon, the State Department, and other government agencies to implement the program.
Democratic lawmakers quickly criticized Hegseth’s decision. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), who helped pass the bipartisan law, called it a dangerous move.
“Every combatant commander who comes through my office highlights the strategic advantage WPS gives U.S. forward-deployed forces,” Shaheen said. “This follows a dangerous and disturbing pattern from the Secretary, who clearly does not listen to advice from senior military leaders. He also continues to ignore the invaluable role women play in our national security.”
Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.), co-chair of the WPS Caucus, called Hegseth’s actions “outrageous and reckless.”
“The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) initiative isn’t ‘woke’—it’s smart, strategic policy grounded in decades of research and bipartisan law, signed by President Trump in 2017,” she said. “Dismissing WPS as a ‘UN feminist plot’ is not just ignorant—it’s dangerous. It denies the reality on the ground, ignores our own defense and diplomatic priorities, and weakens our national security.”
Hegseth has been vocal in his efforts to undo diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in the military, calling them “woke” and ineffective. As Pentagon chief, he has ended identity-based celebrations like Black History Month, removed certain books from the U.S. Naval Academy, and ordered the identification of DEI-related books in Army and Air Force libraries.
