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A2 U.S. NEWS
Wednesday 30 april 2025

Hegseth boasts about ending ‘woke’ program on women and

security. Trump signed it into law

By TARA COPP and his boss, President Donald san legislation that Trump
FARNOUSH AMIRI Trump.In a post on the so- signed into law in 2017
Associated Press cial platform X, Hegseth that recognized the role
WASHINGTON (AP) — De- called the “Women, Peace women have in achieving
fense Secretary Pete Hegs- & Security” program at the security goals, especially
eth boasted on social me- Defense Department “a overseas when their male
dia Tuesday that he had UNITED NATIONS program counterparts may not be
dismantled a program sup- pushed by feminists and able to question or have
porting women on security left-wing activists. Politi- direct access to women
teams, an initiative that he cians fawn over it; troops for cultural or religious rea-
called “woke” but actu- HATE it.” sons.
ally was signed into law by It was, in fact, biparti- It’s the latest controversial

President Donald Trump listens as Defense Secretary Pete
Hegseth speaks at a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of
the White House, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Washington.
Associated Press

move from Hegseth as the understand the human ter-
Pentagon works to nix pro- rain in a new and novel
grams or content seen as way,” Caine said during his
promoting diversity, equity April confirmation hearing.
or inclusion. After Trump Trump met and became
ordered federal agencies endeared to Caine when
to purge DEI content, the Caine was serving in Iraq,
Pentagon issued a broad part of the reason Trump
edict to the military servic- nominated him to the
es that ignited public out- chairmanship.
cry when online images of Homeland Security Secre-
national heroes like Jackie tary Kristi Noem, while rep-
Robinson were briefly re- resenting South Dakota in
moved. Congress, wrote the House
A spokesman for Hegs- version of the 2017 Wom-
eth did not immediately en, Peace and Security
respond to a request for Act with Democratic Rep.
comment on the secre- Jan Schakowsky of Illinois.
tary’s post. Secretary of State Marco
Some of Trump’s Cabi- Rubio, who as a senator
net officials supported the co-sponsored the Senate
Women, Peace and Secu- version of that bill, said this
rity program when it was month that it was “the first
moving through the legis- law passed by any coun-
lative process. try in the world focused
And Gen. Dan Caine, on protecting women and
chairman of the Joint promoting their participa-
Chiefs of Staff, told Con- tion in society.”
gress this month that the The legislation stemmed
program had helped from a resolution unani-
troops in battle. mously endorsed by the
“When we would go out U.N. Security Council, the
into the field after conclud- most powerful U.N. body, in
ing an assault, we would October 2000, aimed at in-
have female members cluding women in peace-
who would speak with building efforts because
those women and children women and girls have his-
who were on the objective, torically borne the brunt of
and they would help us to global conflict.q