Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth boasted on social media Tuesday that he had dismantled a Department of Defense program supporting women on security teams—apparently unaware that the initiative he targeted was not a “woke” Biden-era creation, but a bipartisan program signed into law by President Donald Trump during his first term.
Why It Matters
The Women, Peace & Security (WPS) program is a bipartisan initiative signed into U.S. law in 2017 under President Donald Trump, aimed at increasing the participation of women in peacekeeping, conflict resolution, and security efforts around the world. The program builds on a 2000 United Nations Security Council resolution that recognized the unique impact of conflict on women and the critical role they play in fostering peace and stability. WPS initiatives often focus on deploying female personnel in military and diplomatic missions where cultural or religious barriers limit male engagement.
Associated Press
What to Know
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, then a Republican congresswoman, co-wrote the House version of the 2017 WPS Act alongside Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who co-sponsored the Senate version, called it “the first law passed by any country in the world focused on protecting women and promoting their participation in society.”
The program was widely celebrated by President Trump, his administration, and his family, becoming a flagship achievement for women’s initiatives during Trump’s first term. In 2019, Ivanka Trump highlighted the program’s success, announcing a new partnership aimed at training female police cadets in Colombia as part of the Women, Peace & Security initiative.
In an agitated post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Hegseth called the Department’s “Women, Peace & Security” (WPS) program “a UNITED NATIONS program pushed by feminists and left-wing activists. Politicians fawn over it; troops HATE it.”
In reality, the WPS Act was championed by Trump’s own administration in 2017, recognizing the role women can play in achieving security objectives, especially overseas in cultural settings where male soldiers might be restricted.
Later Tuesday, Hegseth acknowledged that Trump signed the WPS into law while continuing to take aim at former President Joe Biden.
“The woke & weak Biden Administration distorted & weaponized the straight-forward & security-focused WPS initiative launched in 2017. So—yes—we are ending the ‘woke divisive/social justice/Biden (WPS) initiative.’ Biden ruined EVERYTHING, including “Women, Peace & Security.”
Newsweek has reached out to the White House and Pentagon on Tuesday afternoon for comment.
What People Are Saying
Gen. Dan Caine, recently confirmed as Joint Chiefs Chairman and a Trump appointee, praised the program during his April confirmation hearing, “When we would go out into the field after concluding an assault, we would have female members who would speak with those women and children who were on the objective and they would help us to understand the human terrain in a new and novel way,” Caine testified.
U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric defended the effort Tuesday to the Associated Press, noting, “It’s no secret that women remain, largely on the periphery of formal peace processes and decision making, which is not good for the cause of peace.” He added that WPS programs have had “a very clear, measurable and positive impact on the protection of civilians in conflict zones.”
Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia criticized the remarks, saying the post contained, “glaring inaccuracies that are far beneath the standard we should expect from the Department of Defense.”
What Happens Next
It marks the latest controversial move by Hegseth as the Pentagon continues efforts to eliminate programs and content associated with diversity, equity, and inclusion. Following President Trump’s directive for federal agencies to purge DEI-related material, the Pentagon issued sweeping orders to the military branches, sparking public outrage after images of national figures like Jackie Robinson were briefly removed from official platforms.
Reporting by the Associated Press contributed to this story.
Update: 4/29/25, 3:58 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and remarks.
Update: 4/29/25, 4:11 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
