In a political climate where “anti-woke” has become a rallying cry, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth just made a move he may not have thought all the way through.
In an effort to dismantle what he views as social justice overreach within the military, Hegseth pulled the plug on a key Pentagon initiative focused on women’s roles in conflict prevention and national security.
But here’s the twist — the very program he scrapped was not a Biden-era project.
It was signed into law by Donald Trump himself back in 2017.
And not only that — it was widely supported by Trump allies, family members, and military leaders.
Dismantling a Defense Initiative Born in the Trump Era
On Tuesday, Hegseth announced plans to shut down the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) program, a government-wide effort aimed at increasing women’s participation in peacekeeping, conflict resolution, and defense strategy.
His claim? That it was yet another “woke” burden on troops and commanders.
In a fiery post on X, Hegseth declared the WPS initiative a distraction from the military’s core responsibility: war-fighting.
He described it as a “UN-driven feminist program” influenced by left-wing activism, promising to comply only with the bare minimum legal requirements while working to kill it off entirely in Congress.
A Misfire That Hits Too Close to Home
The catch? The WPS program isn’t a Biden initiative at all.
It was a product of the Trump administration, signed into law by Trump himself, with glowing praise from key Republicans at the time.
Ivanka Trump championed the effort, celebrating it in 2019 when it launched a new partnership to train female police officers in Colombia.
Trump allies like Kristi Noem and Marco Rubio were instrumental in getting the bill passed — and now hold major roles in Trump’s current cabinet.
Hegseth’s criticism inadvertently threw those very figures under the bus.
Rubio, Noem and Other Trump Loyalists Backed the Program Strongly
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem didn’t just back the program — she authored the House version of the legislation while in Congress, alongside progressive Democrat Jan Schakowsky.
Over in the Senate, Secretary of State Marco Rubio co-sponsored the Senate version and once called it a historic law.
Even as recently as this month, Rubio had applauded the WPS Act for being the first of its kind globally, highlighting its role in protecting women and encouraging their participation in society.
Even Trump’s Top Military Pick Supports the Program
Hegseth’s comments also seem to clash with Trump’s own pick for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Lt. Gen. Dan Caine.
During his recent confirmation hearing, Caine defended the WPS program and praised its practical value in the field.
He shared how female troops played vital roles during military operations — engaging local women and children after raids to better understand the human side of the battlefield.
Trump, impressed by Caine’s leadership in Iraq, personally selected him for the role.
Democrats Fire Back at Hegseth’s “Anti-Woke” Crusade
Hegseth’s move didn’t sit well with lawmakers across the aisle. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who co-authored the Senate version of the WPS Act, issued a scathing rebuke.
She called Hegseth’s dismissal of the program dangerous, accusing him of reducing a legitimate, evidence-based national security initiative to just another so-called “DEI” program.
Senator Tim Kaine also criticized Hegseth, saying he was misrepresenting the program’s origins and ignoring the military’s support for it.
Critics Say Hegseth Is Fighting Shadows — And Hurting His Own Team
What’s baffling to many is that Hegseth is targeting a bipartisan program praised for strengthening post-conflict stability and enhancing U.S. security.
His harsh comments paint the WPS initiative as a Biden-era issue — but facts tell a very different story.
Critics argue that Hegseth is so fixated on erasing anything that smells like diversity or inclusion that he’s now sabotaging wins from his own side of the aisle.
Silence From Trump Allies as Fallout Builds
As of Tuesday night, neither Kristi Noem nor Marco Rubio had publicly addressed Hegseth’s remarks — but the silence speaks volumes.
It remains to be seen whether they’ll defend their work or let it be steamrolled in the name of an ideological purge.
A Pattern of Scrubbing DEI — Even At the Cost of History
This isn’t Hegseth’s first controversial act. Following Trump’s directive to purge federal agencies of DEI-related content, the Pentagon also triggered backlash for temporarily removing tributes to historical figures like Jackie Robinson.
Observers worry that this pattern of aggressive “anti-woke” actions may lead to more historical erasure — and more political own goals.