The Pentagon’s decision to terminate the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services marks a setback for advancing women’s participation in the security sector. The group, which had recently been reinstated, provided policy recommendations on issues directly affecting women in the military, including reintegration after pregnancy, women serving on submarines, domestic violence, eating disorders, recruitment, and retention. By closing the committee, the Department of Defense risks sidelining these critical areas at a time when women’s integration into all aspects of service remains incomplete.

The advisory body had a track record of impact, submitting more than 1,000 recommendations, of which approximately 95% had been fully or partially adopted by 2023. Its work extended beyond women-specific concerns, shaping broader policy improvements that benefited troops across services. In 2024, for example, the group engaged directly with military formations, such as visiting the USS Makin Island, to conduct research and provide evidence-based advice. Without such mechanisms, both women’s perspectives and the structural challenges they face risk being overlooked, weakening institutional capacity to support gender-inclusive reforms.

This closure also comes at a time when women are playing a critical role in boosting recruitment. In 2024, nearly 10,000 women signed up for active duty – an 18% increase from 2023 – compared to an 8% rise among men. Lawmakers have already cautioned that eliminating the advisory committee will “exacerbate the gap” in collecting data to inform policies on recruitment and retention. Given these trends, sustaining women’s growing participation requires deliberate support structures. Disbanding the committee undermines those efforts and sends a discouraging signal about the Pentagon’s commitment to building a military that draws on the full contributions of women as well as men.

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