Pentagon Demands Scouting America Policy Overhaul, Threatens Partnership Termination
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon, under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, has compelled Scouting America to implement significant policy revisions, including mandating that members be classified by "biological sex at birth and not gender identity." Hegseth disclosed these developments on Friday, highlighting the Defense Department's assertive stance against what he characterizes as "woke culture" influences within the organization.
Specific Changes and Pentagon Ultimatum
Scouting America has agreed to several adjustments, some of which align with proposals it submitted to the Pentagon in January. Key modifications include discontinuing the Citizenship in Society merit badge and introducing a new Military Service merit badge. Additionally, registration fees will be waived for children of military personnel. Hegseth emphasized in a video posted on X that the Pentagon will "vigorously review" these changes in six months and cease support if Scouting America fails to comply.
"We hope that doesn't happen, but it could," Hegseth stated. "Ideally I believe the Boy Scouts should go back to being the Boy Scouts as originally founded, a group that develops boys into men. Maybe someday."
Historical Context and Recent Tensions
Scouting America, based in Irving, Texas, has undergone substantial transformations in recent years. The organization began admitting gay youth in 2013, ended a blanket ban on gay adult leaders in 2015, and started accepting transgender students in 2017. In 2018, it welcomed girls into Cub Scouts, followed by inclusion in the flagship Scouts BSA program in 2019. By May 2024, over 6,000 girls had earned the prestigious Eagle Scout rank.
The Pentagon's scrutiny intensified earlier this month, with a statement accusing Scouting America of having "lost its way" and condemning its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives as "unacceptable." The February 6 statement asserted, "Scouting America's leadership has made decisions that run counter to the values of this administration, including an embrace of DEI and other social justice, gender-fluid ideological stances."
Longstanding Military Ties and Potential Rupture
The U.S. military and the Boy Scouts have maintained a deep-rooted partnership since 1937, with the military providing logistical support for the National Boy Scout Jamboree and sponsoring troops on military bases. Eagle Scouts, in particular, have traditionally been valued recruits for the armed forces. However, this relationship is now at risk due to the Pentagon's demands.
In response to Hegseth's suggestions, Scouting America proposed a plan in January that included dissolving its DEI board committee and holding a ceremony to reaffirm commitment to leadership, duty to God, and duty to country. The Pentagon indicated that an agreement to continue the partnership hinges on Scouting America "rapidly implementing common-sense, core value reforms."
Organizational Challenges and Rebranding Efforts
Founded in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America has faced numerous controversies, including a high-profile Supreme Court case in 1992 that upheld its right to exclude gay members, a policy reversed in 2013. The organization also confronted a flood of sexual abuse claims, leading to a 2020 bankruptcy filing and a $2.4 billion settlement in 2023 to compensate over 80,000 abuse survivors.
The rebrand to Scouting America in 2024 sparked mixed reactions. President and CEO Roger Krone acknowledged some backlash but noted increased interest, with membership growing by approximately 16,000 new scouts, a less than 2% rise from the previous year, bringing total membership to just over 1 million.
As the Pentagon's six-month review period commences, the future of this historic alliance remains uncertain, with Scouting America navigating between modernization pressures and traditionalist demands.
