Hegseth 'proudly' terminates Pentagon's Women, Peace, and Security program
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks with the media during his first official arrival at the Pentagon as Secretary in Washington, DC, January 27, 2025. Photo: AFP
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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the termination of the Pentagon's Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) program, labeling it a 'woke' initiative that detracts from the military's primary mission of warfighting.
Hegseth stated, 'This morning, I proudly ENDED the 'Women, Peace & Security' (WPS) program inside the [Department of Defense]. WPS is yet another woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative that overburdens our commanders and troops — distracting from our core task: WAR-FIGHTING.'
The WPS program was established during President Donald Trump's first term through the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017, signed into law on October 6, 2017.
The Act was co-authored by then-Representative Kristi Noem (R-SD) and co-sponsored by Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), both of whom are now serving in the Trump administration.
Despite its bipartisan origins, Hegseth criticised the program's evolution under the Biden administration, claiming it had been 'distorted & weaponised.'
He pledged to comply with the minimum legal requirements of the WPS program while seeking to defund it in the next budget cycle.
The decision has drawn criticism from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a co-author of the original legislation, expressed concern that ending the program would weaken the country's global standing and undermine the strategic advantages it provides to US forces.
Representative Lois Frankel (D-FL), co-chair of the WPS Caucus, called the move 'outrageous and reckless,' emphasizing that the initiative is grounded in decades of research and bipartisan law.
Former Trump administration officials, including Ivanka Trump and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, had previously supported the WPS program for its strategic benefits in promoting women's roles in peace and security efforts.
The Pentagon has not yet clarified the specific changes that will occur following Hegseth's announcement.
However, the Department of Defense has previously commended the release of the 2023 US WPS Strategy and National Action Plan, highlighting its alignment with national security objectives and the integration of gender perspectives in defense operations.
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In an extreme incident, a transwoman from Charsadda was murdered by her family after she added the 'X' gender on her CNIC. Reflecting on such hazards, a transwoman who moved from Karachi to Peshawar revealed that her parents allowed her to perform at functions and even live separately. However, when it came to mentioning 'X' as my gender on my CNIC, my family openly refused since they feared people would label me as a 'Hijra'. Therefore, I could not get my ID card. If I obtain the card, I lose my family; if I don't, the government refuses to offer me any support,' she regretted. Seconding the plight of trans persons, Mahi Gul, who resides in a rented house in Peshawar's inner-city, recalled her experience with house hunting, societal attitudes, and property owners. 'Every human seeks peace, and for that, one needs a small, private home. With that thought, I rented a house. 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Areas like Dilzak Road, Gulbahar, and Yakatoot have around 20 plazas where transgender individuals live in shared rooms, paying rent between Rs10,000 to Rs15,000 for a single room. A transgender resident of one such plaza, revealed on the condition of anonymity, that the majority of living spaces occupied by the transgender community were dirty, unhygienic, and violated basic health standards. "These crowded and dark spaces contribute to the spread of serious illnesses such as Hepatitis, AIDS, and tuberculosis,' revealed the resident. According to Farzana Khan, President of the Transgender Association K-P, only six to 10 per cent of the transgender community live alone in a rented house, with the majority living in groups of six to eight in one rental home. 'Transgender individuals are not even provided assistance when it comes to registering a rental house. Landlords only agree to rent out a place if they are offered triple the regular rent. In rural areas, if a transgender person tries to rent a house, the entire village and local council (panchayat) intervenes. If they do not vacate immediately, they receive death threats. Hence, transgender people are compelled to live in rented houses or plazas within city limits,' explained Jan. While unsafe living arrangements risk turning into the hotbeds of disease, an alarming culture of targeted violence against the transgender community only adds to their marginalization. For instance, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has recorded the highest number of transgender killings in the country over the past few years. According to the Transgender Association of K-P, 126 transgender individuals have been murdered in the province over the past five years, while more than a thousand others have been victims of gun violence. Unfortunately, none of the perpetrators have received a major punishment. K-P's Minister for Social Welfare, Qasim Ali Shah, conceded that the demands of the transgender community were valid. 'Unless transgender individuals are officially registered, it would be difficult to allocate quotas and provide funds to them in the same way as other communities,' said Shah, while speaking of K-P, where only 163 trans persons are registered. According to information obtained by The Express Tribune, during the past 13 years of PTI's government, very few of the promises made to the transgender community including provisions for a separate hospital ward and beds, an endowment fund and special desks at police stations were fulfilled. Hence, the transgender community in K-P feels alienated not only by society but also by the government and has announced a sit-in protest in front of the KP Assembly in the coming days. On the other hand, the Punjab government has started the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar Program, under which citizens are being given loans of up to Rs1.5 million to build a house. This loan will have to be repaid in five to seven years. 'Any citizen of Punjab, including transgender persons, can take a loan to build their own house under this scheme,' said a spokesperson for the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency. Similarly, Advisor to the Chief Minister of Sindh, Waqar Mehdi, assured that the government was working to resolve the problems facing the transgender community.
