War Secretary Hegseth axes panel that encourages women to enter military created by Defense Secretary George C Marshall

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has dissolved the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services — a body that has existed for nearly 75 years. This move fits into his broader effort to reshape the Pentagon’s priorities and eliminate institutions that he believes conflict with his vision of a purely martial “warrior ethos.” 

The advisory committee, established in 1951 under President Truman and Defense Secretary George C. Marshall, was long tasked with advising on policies affecting female servicemembers: recruitment, retention, integration, health, and career progression. Over its life, it made more than 1,100 recommendations, many of which were adopted in whole or in part. 

In announcing the decision, Pentagon spokesman Kingsley Wilson said that Hegseth viewed the committee as having pursued a “divisive feminist agenda” that, in his view, undermined combat readiness. Instead, Hegseth says his priority is enforcing “uniform, sex‑neutral standards” across all branches of the military. 

The decision reflects a larger pattern of changes under Hegseth’s leadership. He has already ended a program designed to boost women’s roles in peacebuilding and security, labeling it “woke” and politically divisive. He has also moved to dismantle or weaken other diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts within the Department of Defense. 

When questioned by lawmakers, Hegseth said he respects women who serve but complained that in some cases standards have been lowered to accommodate “gender quotas.” But in a podcast appearance, he went further: he declared that women should not serve in combat roles, claiming such integration has not made the military more effective and instead complicates operations.

The termination will require official procedures under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to dissolve the committee, reassign its staff, end contracts, and archive records. 

Critics warn that eliminating one of the most influential women’s advisory bodies could erase institutional memory and weaken the Pentagon’s ability to address gender‑specific issues—such as physical health, parental leave, integration into combat roles, and equitable career advancement.

Source: POLITICO