U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has canceled a landmark bipartisan program originally signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2017 to promote women’s participation in national security, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding.

WPS Act dismantled amid criticism of “woke” policies

The Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Act was the first legislation of its kind globally and marked the U.S. as a leader in promoting the inclusion of women in post-conflict stabilization and counter-extremism strategies. On Tuesday, Hegseth announced he was terminating the initiative, calling it a “woke” distraction from military priorities.

“WPS is yet another woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative that overburdens our commanders and troops — distracting from our core task: WAR-FIGHTING,” Hegseth posted on X, adding that the Department of Defense would now execute only the legal minimum of WPS requirements and would work to eliminate funding entirely in the next budget.

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A bipartisan legacy overturned

The program had once enjoyed broad bipartisan support. Republican figures now serving in Trump’s second administration, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, were among its original champions. Rubio reaffirmed his support for the act earlier this month, stating:

“It was the first comprehensive law passed by any country in the world focused on protecting women and promoting their participation in society.”

Despite that legacy, the Pentagon under Hegseth has moved to curtail other diversity-related initiatives. This includes ending recognition of identity-based observances like Black History Month and removing certain books—such as Maya Angelou’s memoir—from the Naval Academy's reading lists.

Global concern over rollback

The U.N., which initiated the WPS agenda with a Security Council resolution in 2000, continues to host annual sessions on the issue. Responding to Hegseth’s comments, U.N. spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric emphasized the importance of women’s involvement in peace processes.

“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,” Dujarric said.

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