Hegseth Ends Women, Peace, and Security Program in DoD

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the termination of the Pentagon's Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) program, describing it as a 'woke' and divisive initiative that distracts from the Defense Department's core mission of war-fighting. Hegseth incorrectly tied the program to the Biden administration, though it was actually established by bipartisan legislation championed by GOP lawmakers and signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2017. The law was co-sponsored by current Cabinet members Kristi Noem and Marco Rubio, who have both publicly praised its aims to promote women's participation in conflict prevention and resolution. Despite Hegseth's claims, the program cannot be fully eliminated without congressional action, so the Pentagon will only meet the minimum statutory requirements while seeking its termination in the next budget cycle. The WPS Act was considered a significant accomplishment by the Trump administration, with Rubio recently reiterating its importance as the first law of its kind globally. The program's dismantling marks a stark reversal from its original bipartisan support and the earlier embrace by the Trump administration.