The Women, Peace and Security program was implemented across departments in 2019. (U.S. Army photo by Cpl. Clay Beyersdorfer)
But the message raised eyebrows as much of the rest of Trump’s administration has supported the WPS programs.
Trump signed the WPS Act into law in 2017 and released a WPS strategy in 2019.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem penned the 2017 Women, Peace and Security Act as a House member from South Dakota alongside Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.). Secretary of State Marco Rubio co-sponsored the legislation when he was in the Senate, and national security advisor Mike Waltz was a founding member of the WPS congressional caucus when he was in the House.
"The WPS Strategy recognizes the diverse roles women play as agents of change in preventing and resolving conflict, countering terrorism and violent extremism, and building post conflict peace and stability," the strategy read.
Hegseth later clarified that he meant the Biden administration had "ruined" WPS.
"The woke & weak Biden Administration distorted & weaponized the straight-forward & security-focused WPS initiative launched in 2017. So—yes—we are ending the "woke divisive/social justice/Biden (WPS) initiative," he added in a follow-up post on X. "Biden ruined EVERYTHING, including 'Women, Peace & Security.'"
The White House could not be reached for comment on whether it still supported the program.
EX-PENTAGON AIDE URGES TRUMP TO FIRE HEGSETH, CITING 'FULL-BLOWN MELTDOWN' AND 'TOTAL CHAOS'
Trump signed the WPS Act into law in 2017. (Donald Trump 2024 campaign)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Rubio touted the legislation as recently as this month.
"President Trump also signed the Women, Peace, and Security Act, a bill that I was very proud to have been a 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," he said at a Women of Courage awards ceremony on April 1.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hegseth-says-hes-undoing-woke-divisive-social-justice-biden-initiative-trump-signed-law