Defense Secretary Hegseth Cancels Women, Peace, and Security Program

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has canceled the Pentagon's Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) program, which was originally enacted in 2017 under President Donald Trump with bipartisan support to promote women's participation in peace and conflict resolution. Hegseth characterized the initiative as 'woke' and a distraction from the military's core warfighting mission, vowing to reduce it to only what is legally required and to seek its full elimination in the next budget. Critics have pointed out the contradiction in labeling the program a partisan measure, given its origins in the Trump administration and longstanding bipartisan backing, including from current Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Hegseth's move is part of a broader rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts at the Department of Defense, such as ending identity month observances and removing certain books from military academies. The decision has ignited controversy and debate over the place of gender-focused policies in U.S. defense strategy and reflects deepening partisan divides on the issue. Supporters of the WPS program emphasize its historic significance and argue that sidelining women in security undermines global stability.