Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Tuesday canceled a plan that promotes women’s contribution to the national security sector, despite Donald Trump’s law signed in 2017 and supported by current Trump administration officials.
During his first term, Trump signed the signing of the Women, Peace and Security Act, which seeks to increase the role of women in preventing and resolving conflict, opposing violent extremism and establishing post-conflict stability.
Heggs said Tuesday he was proud to end the program at the Pentagon.
“WPS is another awakening division/social justice/Biden Initiative, which goes beyond our commanders and troops – dispersing our core mission: war.”
He added: “(Defense) will hereby implement the minimum WPS required by the regulations and terminate the program for our next budget.” “Good Knight WPS!”
Later, he tweeted without evidence that the Biden administration “distorted and weaponized the direct and secure WPS initiative initiated in 2017.”
Hegseth aims at the diversity, equity and inclusion since the Pentagon took office.
The Pentagon ended its commemoration of Identity Month celebrations with Hegseth as Secretary of Defense, such as Black History Moth, and a number of books that have been removed from the Naval Academy, including Maya Angelou’s memoirs.
The WPS program was promoted by the first Trump administration.
“This is the first legislation of its kind in the world.
This makes the United States the first
“There are comprehensive laws on WPS all over the world,” the White House document said.
It also has bipartisan support. Trump Secretary of State Marco Rubio is the co-sponsor of the bill, as is current Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Trump's national security adviser Mike Waltz is a founding member of the WPS Congress caucus.
“President Trump also signed the Women, Peace and Security Act, a bill I am proud of being a co-sponsor of the Senate,” Rubio said at the State Department earlier this month.
Rubio added: “This is the first comprehensive law passed by any country in the world, and it is the first law passed by any country in the world – aiming to protect women and promote their participation in society.”
(Reports by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart; Other reports by Michelle Nichols and Patricia Zengerle; Editors by Alexandra Hudson)
