Hegseth 'proudly' terminates Pentagon's Women, Peace, and Security program
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the termination of the Pentagon's Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) program, labeling it a 'woke' initiative that detracts from the military's primary mission of warfighting.
Hegseth stated, 'This morning, I proudly ENDED the 'Women, Peace & Security' (WPS) program inside the [Department of Defense]. WPS is yet another woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative that overburdens our commanders and troops — distracting from our core task: WAR-FIGHTING.'
The WPS program was established during President Donald Trump's first term through the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017, signed into law on October 6, 2017.
The Act was co-authored by then-Representative Kristi Noem (R-SD) and co-sponsored by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), both of whom are now serving in the Trump administration.
Despite its bipartisan origins, Hegseth criticised the program's evolution under the Biden administration, claiming it had been 'distorted & weaponised.'
He pledged to comply with the minimum legal requirements of the WPS program while seeking to defund it in the next budget cycle.
The decision has drawn criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a co-author of the original legislation, expressed concern that ending the program would weaken the country's global standing and undermine the strategic advantages it provides to US forces.
Representative Lois Frankel (D-FL), co-chair of the WPS Caucus, called the move 'outrageous and reckless,' emphasizing that the initiative is grounded in decades of research and bipartisan law.
Former Trump administration officials, including Ivanka Trump and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, had previously supported the WPS program for its strategic benefits in promoting women's roles in peace and security efforts.
The Pentagon has not yet clarified the specific changes that will occur following Hegseth's announcement.
However, the Department of Defense has previously commended the release of the 2023 US WPS Strategy and National Action Plan, highlighting its alignment with national security objectives and the integration of gender perspectives in defense operations.
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