Latest news with #andSecurityActof2017
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Assessing Claims About the Pentagon's Women, Peace, and Security Program
On April 29, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced his intention to shutter the Pentagon's Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) program. Although Hegseth referred to the WPS program as a 'Biden initiative,' the program was established through bipartisan congressional legislation and signed into law by President Donald Trump. Hegseth later appeared to acknowledge this in a separate tweet shared two hours after his initial post: '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.'' Hegseth lacks the authority to entirely eliminate the program, which he appeared to acknowledge at the end of his tweet, noting he would dismantle it to the fullest extent allowed by the law and push for its eradication in the administration's next budget request, which Congress must approve. The law that created the program was written to apply not only to the Department of Defense (DOD), but also the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Congress tasked the DOD specifically with ensuring that various training regimens address 'the importance of meaningful participation by women' and that employees receive training in 'gender considerations,' particularly in regards to the protection of civilians and international human rights law. In May 2017, Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire introduced the Women, Peace, and Security Act of 2017 to increase female participation in U.S. foreign affairs, particularly in overseas conflict prevention and resolution. Four senators—two Democrats and two Republicans—co-sponsored the Senate bill, including Trump's current secretary of state, then-Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. The bill—and an identical version introduced in the House by South Dakota's then-Rep. Kristi Noem, the current homeland security secretary—called for the president to produce a 'Women, Peace, and Security Strategy' within one year of its passage, and then once every four years after, detailing the administration's efforts 'to promote the participation of women in conflict prevention and peace building.' The Trump White House published its WPS report in June 2019. 'The Trump Administration is committed to advancing women's equality, seeking to protect the rights of women and girls, and promoting women and youth empowerment programs,' the 20-page report states. It spelled out four broad specific goals—'line of efforts'—detailing the administration's approach to advance 'women's empowerment and equality' and ensuring their participation in conflict-related matters. The first simply stated the importance of female participation globally 'in decision-making processes related to conflict and crises,' and the second focused on securing human rights for women around the world and protecting them from 'violence, abuse, and exploitation.' The third discussed how the U.S. could use its various international programs to advance its women's empowerment objectives, acknowledging 'that systemic inequality faced by women and girls serves as a known driver of conflict,' and the fourth focused on recommendations the U.S. should provide to allied governments for advancing women's empowerment and equality within their nations. That strategy did not change radically between administrations, though the Biden White House's strategy, published in October 2023, focused more on intersectionality—a core concept of identity politics. 'Promoting intersectionality with regard to demographics such as race, disability, and sexual orientation is important to ensure opportunities for the participation of all women.' The Biden administration report also linked questions of women's peace and security to climate change and LGBT+ rights. The administration stressed the importance of 'acknowledging the gendered dimensions of the climate crisis.' The report cited an example of an August 2023 review the government released to study the effects of climate change on women, and develop strategies to alleviate climate-related issues disproportionately affecting them. 'This Strategy directly links gender inequality and climate change with advancing the WPS agenda because climate change impacts—such as extreme weather events and food and water insecurity—are threat multipliers and increase the risk of displacement, migration, and conflict, especially in regions that suffer from instability, and particularly for women and girls,' the 2023 report explained. In another example, the report noted that tools to promote women, peace, and security within the government—such as sensitivity training—can also be used to raise awareness about LGBT+ issues of inequality. The Dispatch Fact Check has reached out to the Department of Defense for comment. If you have a claim you would like to see us fact check, please send us an email at factcheck@ If you would like to suggest a correction to this piece or any other Dispatch article, please email corrections@
Express Tribune
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
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 Listen to article 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.
