Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced plans to terminate the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) program, a key initiative from the Trump administration aimed at enhancing women’s roles in diplomacy and national security. The WPS program was established by the Women, Peace and Security Act, which was authored by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem during her time in the House and co-sponsored by Senator Marco Rubio. Hegseth criticized the program as a “woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative” that distracts military personnel from their primary mission of warfare. Despite his intent to abolish the program, he acknowledged the need to comply with minimum statutory requirements before pushing for its termination in future budgets, exclaiming, “GOOD RIDDANCE WPS!”
The program received bipartisan support, with Trump signing the act into law in 2017, which mandated the implementation of its goals across various federal departments. Noem emphasized the need for women’s inclusion in peace negotiations, while the Trump administration released a strategy in 2019 to promote women’s participation in conflict prevention and resolution. While the law marked a significant step in advancing women’s rights, Hegseth’s decision has drawn criticism, particularly given its legislative origins and support from within the Republican Party. Both Noem and Rubio, who have expressed pride in the legislation, have not indicated intentions to dismantle related efforts in their respective departments. Requests for comment from the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, and the White House regarding Hegseth’s announcement went unanswered.
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