US Defense Minister Hegseth under fire: Trump era remains hot!

US Defense Minister Hegseth under fire: Trump era remains hot!

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the end of the controversial “Women, Peace and Security” funding program on Platform X today. Hegseth described the program as a “divisive project of feminists and the left” and celebrated its cancellation as a success against so-called “woke” politics. He claimed that the program was initiated under the leadership of former President Joe Biden and was not well received by US soldiers. Journalists and political observers dispute this account, pointing out that the program was actually launched by Donald Trump in 2017 and expanded in 2019. The aim of the law was to increase the involvement of women in peace processes and international security policy.

Less than two hours after his initial announcement, Hegseth said the program would be canceled because it had been “politically distorted” by the Biden administration. The ministry plans to return to the original focus of the program, but without clearly defining what this exactly means. Interestingly, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised the program just a few weeks ago and highlighted his involvement as a co-signatory in the Senate, making Hegseth's sudden about-face all the more remarkable.

Criticism of Pete Hegseth

Hegseth, who has been married to Jennifer Rauchet since 2019, faces criticism not only for his political decisions but also for personal controversies. The defense secretary was nominated by Donald Trump, which sparked immediate criticism. He recently came under pressure after an incident in a group chat where sensitive information was shared came to light. During this incident, a journalist was accidentally able to read along. Hegseth was part of that chat, which also included high-profile figures such as Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

In addition, his former sister-in-law Danielle Diettrich made serious allegations against him, including threats towards his second wife, Samantha Deering. Deering reportedly hid in a closet out of fear of Hegseth. This raises serious questions about Hegseth's suitability for the values-driven Defense Department, especially given serious allegations such as alleged sexual assault and alcohol addiction.

The context of feminist foreign policy

The debate surrounding Hegseth's announcement and the Women, Peace and Security program sits in the broader context of feminist foreign policy, which calls on states to place peace, gender equality and ecological integrity at the heart of their international interactions. The aim is to break down colonial and male-dominated power structures and promote human rights. The step backwards that Hegseth is taking with his announcement could be interpreted as a contradiction to these goals, which are also becoming increasingly important in current international politics.

Feminist foreign policy also requires significant resources for research and implementation in order to achieve a transformative, intersectional and decolonial perspective. These approaches could play a crucial role in policymaking, especially in times of global crises such as the war in Ukraine.