Trump authorized a "woke" women and security program termination, bragged Hegseth
Rewritten Article:
Pete Hegseth, the U.S. Defense Secretary, stirred a controversy this week when he bragged about axing a military program focused on integrating women into security teams. Unbeknownst to him, this program he attempted to scrap wasn't a recent Biden-era initiative but a celebrated law enacted by his own boss, former President Donald Trump, back in 2017.
In a fiery social media post, Hegseth labeled the "Women, Peace & Security" (WPS) program as a "UNITED NATIONS program" pushed by feminists and left-wing activists. To troops, he said, they "hate it."
However, the WPS program was born from bipartisan legislature that Donald Trump himself endorsed. This law recognized the crucial role women play in achieving security objectives, especially in situations where male counterparts might be culturally or religiously restricted from interacting with women. Trump's own cabinet officials were supportive of the program as it made its way through the legislative process.
Notably, Gen. Dan Caine, the new Joint Chiefs Chairman, testified before Congress this month, stating that the program had indeed helped troops in battle. Caine recounted how female team members would speak with women and children post-conflict to help troops better understand the overall situation.
Caine had Trump's backing, with the former president becoming fond of Caine during his service in Iraq - a factor that contributed to Trump nominating Caine for the chairmanship.
Representatives like Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) were joint contributors to the House version of the WPS Act in 2017. Recently, Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who co-sponsored the Senate version of the bill, praised the WPS program as the first law passed by any country focused on protecting women and promoting their participation in society.
This program originated from a U.N. resolution unanimously endorsed by the Security Council back in October 2000. The resolution aimed to integrate women into peacekeeping efforts, given their historical role as victims of global conflict.
Stephane Dujarric, a U.N. spokesperson, weighed in on Hegseth's comments, asserting, "[Women] remain largely on the periphery of formal peace processes and decision making, which is not good for the cause of peace." Dujarric also highlighted the positive impact the WPS program has had on the protection of civilians in conflict zones.
Hegseth's tweet sparked immediate criticism from Senate Democrats, who voiced concerns about his qualifications for the job amidst ongoing scrutiny over his use of the commercial app Signal to share sensitive military operations on an unsecured channel with colleagues, family members, and more.
"Hegseth has absolutely no idea what he's doing," stated New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen. Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia echoed her sentiments, criticizing the tweet during a Congressional hearing.
Despite Hegseth's characterization of WPS as a "woke" and divisive initiative, the program was actually celebrated by Trump, his administration, and his family. It took pride of place among the first Trump administration's accomplishments for women, and Ivanka Trump even lauded the WPS program in 2019 for starting a partnership to help train female police cadets in Colombia.
Article by Sagar Meghani, contributed from Washington.
Additional Insights:
- The WPS program focuses on increasing women's participation in peacekeeping missions and decision-making processes, aiming to improve the overall effectiveness of peacebuilding efforts by promoting gender equality.
- Opponents of the WPS program argue that it may divert attention and resources away from military readiness and training, while supporters claim the program enhances military operations by incorporating a broader range of perspectives and minimizing conflicts with local communities.
- Despite misconceptions surrounding the WPS program, the presence of women in the military can contribute to improved morale, higher recruitment rates, and more effective communication with local populations, further bolstering the case for its continued support.
- A ' UN Women's Peace and Security' report found that when women were part of negotiations, peace agreements were 64% more likely to last at least 15 years, and 34% less likely to include conflicts re-emerging within the first five years.
- Pete Hegseth's criticism of the "Women, Peace & Security" (WPS) program, labeled as a "UNITED NATIONS program," contradicts the fact that it was a bipartisan legislation endorsed by his former boss, President Donald Trump, in 2017.
- The WPS program was initiated to acknowledge the essential role women play in achieving security objectives, particularly in culturally or religiously sensitive situations where male counterparts are restricted.
- General Dan Caine, the new Joint Chiefs Chairman, testified in Congress this month, highlighting the WPS program's assistance to troops in understanding post-conflict situations through interactions with women and children.
- Gen. Dan Caine had Trump's support, with the former president becoming favored towards Caine during his service in Iraq, contributing to Trump's decision to nominate Caine for the chairmanship.
- Representatives Kristi Noem (R-S.D.) and Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) were key contributors to the House version of the WPS Act in 2017, while Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) praised the WPS program as the first law passed by any country focused on protecting women and promoting their participation in society.
- Stephane Dujarric, a U.N. spokesperson, responded to Hegseth's comments, emphasizing the importance of women's inclusion in formal peace processes and decision making for the cause of peace.
- Despite Hegseth's characterization of WPS as a divisive, "woke" initiative, the program was actually celebrated by Trump, his administration, and his family, making it one of the first Trump administration's accomplishments for women.
