Washington — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday that he is ending a Defense Department program that promoted women’s participation in peacekeeping and was signed into law by President Trump in 2017.
In his first post on X, Hegseth described the Women, Peace, and Security program as “yet another woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative that overburdens our commanders and troops.” In a subsequent post, he clarified that the program had been “ruined” by the Biden administration.
Hegseth stated that the Defense Department would meet the minimum requirements of the law, but would “fight to end” the program when Congress sets its next budget.
During their time in Congress, Trump administration officials such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and national security adviser Mike Waltz supported the efforts. It was also supported by Mr. Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, who worked in the White House during his first term.
Rubio praised the bill earlier this month, saying he was proud to support it during a speech at the State Department. According to him, it was “the first law passed by any country anywhere in the world focused on protecting women and promoting their participation in society.”
The program, according to the strategy released during Mr. Trump’s first term, aims to increase women’s participation in decision-making processes while also promoting the protection of women’s and girls’ human rights globally.
When asked by CBS News about Hegseth’s post on X, Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, who introduced the program legislation, said the defense secretary is “short-sighted and doesn’t really understand what he’s doing”.
“We have data that shows what a difference it makes to have women at the table in negotiations,” Shaheen told the audience. “We know that peace agreements that are made with women at the table last 35% longer, longer than 15 years if women are at the table.” On “Face the Nation” Sunday, Shaheen criticized Hegseth, saying he has “created chaos” at the Pentagon amid a recent staff shakeup.
“For those people who serve under him, he has shown that he is not the kind of role model, not the kind of leader that we need at this time,” Shaheen told the media.
One of Hegseth’s objectives at the Pentagon has been to rid the Defense Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs.
According to Kathleen McInnis of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the Women, Peace, and Security program is not DEI because it does not establish any requirements, quotas, or goals for organizational composition, academic admission, or career fields within the DOD.
During his confirmation hearing, Hegseth did not promise to continue the program, but did say he would “commit to reviewing that program and ensuring it aligns with America First national security priorities, meritocracy, lethality, and readiness.”