Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took to X on Tuesday to celebrate ending a Pentagon program supporting women on security teams, seemingly unaware that it was actually a Donald Trump policy.
“This morning, I proudly ENDED the “Women, Peace & Security” (WPS) program inside the @DeptofDefense. WPS is yet another woke divisive/social justice/Biden initiative that overburdens our commanders and troops — distracting from our core task: WAR-FIGHTING,” Hegseth wrote on X.
“WPS is a UNITED NATIONS program pushed by feminists and left-wing activists. Politicians fawn over it; troops HATE it. DoD will hereby executive the minimum of WPS required by statute, and fight to end the program for our next budget,” he added. “GOOD RIDDANCE WPS!”
But, WPS was not a “woke” Biden-era initiative, but a bipartisan program signed into law by Donald Trump in his first term with some current members of the Trump administration playing a major role in the legislation.
Trump’s current Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, then a Republican congresswoman, co-wrote the House version of the WPS Act with Democratic Rep. Jan Schakowsky. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, then a senator, co-sponsored the Senate version and current national security adviser Mike Waltz chaired the House’s WPS caucus.
Senate Democrats slammed Hegseth for making such a glaring mistake in his post.
“Hegseth has absolutely no idea what he’s doing,” said Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. “Women, Peace and Security is a bipartisan law that Congress passed and President Trump signed. It’s supported by military leadership and gives the U.S. a proven strategic advantage. Once again, Hegseth’s actions are short-sighted.”
“Could you focus on not losing a $60 million jet to a $2000 Houthi rocket? Might be more worth your time,” Arizona Sen. Reuben Gallego wrote in response to Hesgeth.
Sen. Tammy Duckworth replied with a screenshot of Ivanka Trump praising the initiative in 2017 including efforts to train female police cadets in Colombia.
Hegseth responded to the backlash by blaming the Biden administration for distorting and weaponizing “the straight-forward & security-focused WPS initiative launched in 2017.”
