ICYMI: Women, Peace and Security Law “Ended” by Hegseth Widely Supported by Trump Administration Officials

(Washington, DC) – Earlier today, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth moved to “end” the “Women, Peace and Security (WPS)” program inside the U.S. Department of Defense. U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), a top member of the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee, blasted his action and called attention to the numerous Trump Cabinet members who were integral to the passage of WPS in Congress. In addition to President Trump, who signed WPS into law in 2017, a number of other administration officials have been vocal in their support for the program:

Trump White House in 2019: “President Trump was the first global leader to sign bipartisan legislation of this kind, making the United States the first country in the world with a standalone, comprehensive law on Women, Peace, and Security [...] With today’s release of our Strategy on Women, Peace, and Security, the United States reaffirms its strong and unwavering commitment to advancing women’s equality, protecting the rights of women and girls, and promoting women’s economic empowerment.”

Secretary of State Marco Rubio just 28 days ago: “President Trump also signed the Women, Peace, and Security Act, a bill that I was very proud to have been co-sponsor of when I was in the Senate, and it was the first comprehensive law passed in any country in the world – the first law passed by any country anywhere in the world – focused on protecting women and promoting their participation in society.”

Then Representative and House WPS Caucus Co-Chair Mike Waltz last year: “The Trump Administration then released the women peace and security strategy in 2019, and I, with my colleague Democrat colleague Lois Frankel, formed and co-chaired the WPS caucus in the House to kind of oversee the implementation.”

Then Representative Kristi Noem introducing Women, Peace and Security Act: “Especially when the world is so volatile and security remains a constant concern, it’s critical we take full advantage of proven peace-building tactics, such as involving women in conflict prevention and resolution. We understand from research that peace agreements are much more likely to be sustained if women have a role in the negotiations. The bipartisan Women, Peace, and Security Act ensures, through meaningful congressional oversight, that women gain this seat at the table. I thank Rep. Schakowsky, Chairman Royce, and Ranking Member Engel for working to advance this critical national security tool.”

Trump-appointed Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Rath Hoffman in 2020: "By recognizing the diverse roles women play across the spectrum of conflict — and by incorporating their perspectives throughout plans and operations — DOD is better equipped to promote our security, confront near-peer competitors, and defeat our adversaries.”

Trump Defense Department acting assistant secretary of defense for stability and humanitarian affairs Stephanie Hammond in 2020: "When we recognize the diverse roles women play as agents of change; and when we incorporate their perspectives throughout our plans and operations, we are better equipped to promote our security, confront our near peer competitors, and defeat our adversaries."

Then senior advisor Ivanka Trump in 2019 on Twitter: “@POTUS signed into law Women, Peace and Security, making the United States the 1st country in the world to enact #WPS legislation. Today I was proud to announce, with female police cadets, that Colombia will develop a #WPS National Action Plan as part of our WPS partnership.”

In 2017, Shaheen led the bipartisan Women, Peace and Security law through Congress to prioritize the promotion of women’s participation in foreign policy and national security efforts, such as conflict prevention, peace negotiations and democratic institutions. Women’s participation in peace negotiations increases the probability by 35 percent of agreements lasting at least 15 years. 

After Shaheen’s bill passed the Republican-led Senate by unanimous consent and was approved by the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives, President Trump signed the bipartisan legislation into law in October 2017. 

In a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing earlier this month on Lieutenant General John D. Caine’s nomination to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Caine told Shaheen about the operational advantage for the U.S. military – not DEI.

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