‘Are we great yet’: Pete Hegseth shuts down a 100 year-old committee for women in the military

In a move that feels like a step backward in time, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has completely shut down a nearly century-old committee dedicated to expanding the role of women in the military. This isn’t just a minor administrative shuffle; it’s a direct blow to a group that has existed since 1951, created by former Defense Secretary George C. Marshall under President Harry Truman to increase the number of female service members and open up new career fields for them.

The committee, known as the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, was one of many groups that provided guidance to the secretary. Hegseth has axed it as part of his “warrior ethos” vision for the department, per Politico. This isn’t the first time he’s taken such an action; he has also shut down a program that aimed to boost the number of women in peace-building and conflict prevention efforts, labeling it “woke” and “divisive.”

A Pentagon spokesperson, Kingsley Wilson, announced the decision on X, stating that the committee was “focused on advancing a divisive feminist agenda that hurts combat readiness.” This reasoning feels a bit like a throwback to a different era, and it directly contradicts the committee’s long-standing purpose of ensuring women could serve effectively and fairly.

Hegseth shut down a committe to help women in the military

Hegseth’s actions are part of a broader push to redefine the armed forces, which includes setting new grooming standards and trying to root out diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts. Hegseth noted that his critiques were about instances where he’s “seen standards lowered” for women in combat. However, his past comments paint a different picture.

On a podcast last year, he stated, “I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles.” He went on to say that having women in these roles “hasn’t made us more effective. Hasn’t made us more lethal. Has made fighting more complicated.” These are strong opinions that clearly don’t align with the goals of a committee meant to expand opportunities for women in the military. It’s no wonder no one wants to work with him.

The closure of this committee is a significant move, especially considering its history. It was founded to help integrate women into the military more effectively, a task that has been a gradual process over decades. Now, with the stroke of a pen, a key part of that support structure has been dismantled. The justification that the committee hurts “combat readiness” by “advancing a divisive feminist agenda” is a pretty wild claim, especially for a group that has been working for so long to ensure female service members have the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.

This action raises a lot of questions about the future of diversity and inclusion within the armed forces. It suggests that the path forward, at least under the current leadership, is one that prioritizes a very specific, and arguably outdated, vision of what a “warrior” should be.

While Hegseth claims to be prioritizing “uniform, sex-neutral standards,” the decision to eliminate a committee specifically designed to address the unique needs and challenges of women in the services seems to do the exact opposite. It’s a move that will likely have a long-lasting impact, and it’s certainly one to watch as this administration continues to shape the future of the military.