The Pentagon is under unprecedented pressure in this moment. This is the second head-scratching move, following the abrupt decision by Pete Hegseth to destroy the Women, Peace and Security (WPS), established during Donald Trump’s first term. This project aims to further incorporate women’s participation into peace and security initiatives. In 2017, President Trump signed into law the Women, Peace and Security Act, codifying this important mission. So the original act did indeed make the United States the first country in history to pass standalone legislation focusing specifically on this very important area.
Kristi Noem to write the original legislation in 2017, when she was still in Congress. The bill was indeed bipartisan, with Marco Rubio co-sponsoring it in the Senate. The program received public endorsement from Ivanka Trump, who promoted its importance during a 2019 event highlighting female police cadets.
So Hegseth’s announcement is already generating a small uproar. He charged the Biden administration with “perverting & politicizing” the original objectives of the WPS program. He expressed concerns that the initiative has become a burden on military commanders and troops, stating, “Politicians fawn over it; troops HATE it.”
In his statement regarding the program’s discontinuation, Hegseth emphasized his commitment to complying with minimum federal requirements while advocating for the program’s defunding during the next budget cycle. Perhaps most importantly, he did not mince his words about opposing what he deems a “woke divisive/social justice” plot. He argues that this new initiative diverts the military from its core war-fighting focus.
“Biden ruined EVERYTHING, including ‘Women, Peace & Security,’” – Pete Hegseth
The scrap heap return of the WPS program has lit a firestorm of debate in military circles. It has stoked feuds between Trump-era officials who were instrumental in its creation. Marco Rubio recently remarked on the significance of the program, stating, “a bill that I was very proud to have been a co-sponsor of when I was in the Senate.” Congressman Mike Waltz has been a vocal and active supporter of strengthening the program and legislation to do so. He used to be co-chair of the bipartisan Women, Peace and Security Caucus.
The developing saga illustrates a deeper ideological rift over gender integration efforts in the overall military policy. Advocates consider the WPS program an essential cornerstone that strengthens the role of women in fostering peace and security around the world. Yet others deride it as an unwelcome intrusion into military operations.