Hegseth Plans to Terminate Trump's 2017 'Woke' Law

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Tuesday his intention to dismantle a Defense Department initiative aimed at enhancing women's roles in global peace efforts. This initiative, enacted by President Trump in 2017, is now considered by Hegseth as a burdensome 'woke' undertaking.

Hegseth expressed on platform X that the Women, Peace, and Security program had evolved into a divisive entity under the Biden administration. Although he plans to meet the basic legal demands, Hegseth is determined to push for the program's termination in the upcoming Congressional budget discussions.

Past Advocacy and Current Criticism

During Trump's tenure, several high-profile figures, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, were firm proponents of this program. Ivanka Trump, who served in the White House at the time, was another strong advocate. Recently, Rubio took pride in the program being the pioneering global law that focused on safeguarding and empowering women.

The initiative aimed to boost women's involvement in decision-making and uphold their human rights worldwide, as reflected in the strategic outline released in Trump's first term.

Criticism from Various Quarters

Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen from New Hampshire voiced strong disapproval of Hegseth's stance, emphasizing the significance of women's presence in negotiations. She cited statistics underscoring longer-lasting peace agreements when women are involved.

Shaheen also criticized Hegseth's leadership within the Pentagon, indicating that his approach has been disruptive during recent staff changes.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Debate

Aimed at eliminating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies within the Defense Department, Hegseth's agenda contrasts with opinions from experts like Kathleen McInnis of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. McInnis argued that the Women, Peace, and Security program does not constitute a DEI initiative, as it lacks mandates on organizational structure or employment quotas.

In his confirmation hearing, Hegseth refrained from guaranteeing the program's continuation, committing instead to reassessing it to ensure alignment with the 'America First' security goals.

This rewrite summarizes the intent to dismantle a policy originally praised for promoting gender equality in peace processes, set against a backdrop of political division over the perceived impact and scope of gender-focused policies in national defense.