U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has officially disbanded the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, a panel established in 1951 to advise on policies affecting women in the military. The committee historically focused on recruitment, retention, integration, well-being, and treatment of women serving in the armed forces. Over the decades, it submitted more than 1,100 recommendations to Pentagon leadership, with nearly 94% fully or partially implemented, shaping significant policy changes for female service members.
Hegseth, however, argued that the committee had shifted toward what he described as a “divisive feminist agenda” that undermined military combat readiness. A Pentagon spokesperson confirmed his decision, stating that the defense secretary’s current priorities center on “uniform, sex-neutral standards” across all branches of the Department of Defense rather than gender-specific initiatives. The move effectively ends the work of one of the oldest advisory bodies in the U.S. military.
The disbandment follows a series of actions by Hegseth targeting diversity, equity, and inclusion programs since assuming his post. Earlier, he canceled a congressionally mandated initiative, signed into law in 2017 by then-President Donald Trump, which aimed to expand the participation of women in national security leadership roles. He has also ended Pentagon recognition of identity month commemorations, including Black History Month, and overseen the removal of several books—such as Maya Angelou’s memoir—from the Naval Academy curriculum.
Critics argue that eliminating the committee reverses decades of progress in supporting women in uniform and risks sidelining issues that directly impact military readiness, such as retention and treatment of female personnel. At the same time, U.S. media organizations have expressed concern about new Pentagon rules restricting coverage of military affairs, raising broader questions about transparency and free speech under Hegseth’s leadership.