Hegseth announces ending Pentagon involvement in Trump initiative empowering women championed by Ivanka Trump & Rubio [View all]

(CNN) Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Tuesday he was ending the Defense Department’s Women, Peace and Security program, which he termed a “Biden initiative” and that was enacted by President Donald Trump in his first term, championed by his daughter Ivanka Trump and based on a law co-sponsored by Secretary of State Marco Rubio when he was a member of the Senate.

Experts say the move will have significant consequences for women in the military and the US military’s goals abroad.

“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 posted.

“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. GOOD RIDDANCE WPS!”

https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/29/politics/hegseth-ending-pentagon-trump-women-initiative/index.html