Pentagon Pushes for Policy Changes at Scouting America
The Pentagon has prompted Scouting America to revise several of its policies, including those concerning transgender youth, according to an announcement made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. This move is part of Hegseth’s broader campaign against diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives within military-supported organizations.
Earlier this year, the organization proposed changes to the Defense Department, such as eliminating the Citizenship in Society merit badge, creating a Military Service merit badge, and waiving registration fees for the children of military personnel. These suggestions have now been incorporated into Scouting America’s policies.
Hegseth has been critical of Scouting America’s evolution over the years, particularly its rebranding from the Boy Scouts and its adoption of policies he associates with “woke culture.” He emphasized in a video on X that the Pentagon will reassess its support for the organization in six months, stating, “We hope that doesn’t happen, but it could. 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.”
In response, Scouting America, headquartered in Irving, Texas, highlighted its compliance with a previous executive order from President Donald Trump focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. The organization also affirmed its commitment to serving over 200,000 girls participating in its programs.
Significant changes in Scouting America’s policies began in 2013 when they allowed gay youth to join. By 2015, they lifted a ban on gay adult leaders, and in 2017, they began accepting transgender students. The organization started admitting girls into Cub Scouts in 2018 and into Scouts BSA, the renamed flagship program, in 2019. By May 2024, over 6,000 girls had achieved the prestigious Eagle Scout rank.
Scouting America emphasized that the policy updates strengthen its longstanding relationship with the military, which includes hosting Scout meetings on or near military bases both domestically and internationally. “Scouting America is one of the most reliable pipelines to the United States Armed Forces our country has ever known,” the organization stated, noting the high representation of Eagle Scouts in military leadership roles.
Earlier, the Pentagon expressed concerns over Scouting America’s direction, describing its diversity and inclusion efforts as “unacceptable.” A statement from February 6 indicated that the organization’s leadership actions were at odds with the administration’s values, emphasizing the need for Scouting America to quickly implement reforms centered on core values.
The U.S. military has historically supported the Boy Scouts, providing logistical assistance for events like the National Boy Scout Jamboree, which began in 1937. Military bases have long sponsored Scout troops, and many Eagle Scouts enlist in the armed forces.
In a prior statement, Scouting America raised issues regarding reports suggesting potential cuts in Pentagon support for Scouting programs on military bases and the National Jamboree. They also expressed concern about the possible elimination of pay grade increases for enlisted Eagle Scouts.
In January, Scouting America presented a detailed plan to Hegseth, outlining changes such as discontinuing their Citizenship in Society merit badge, implementing a Military Service merit badge, waiving fees for military families, and holding a ceremony to reaffirm commitments to leadership and service. Additionally, they proposed dissolving their diversity, equity, and inclusion committee.
The Boy Scouts of America, founded in 1910, has been an integral part of U.S. culture, known for its pinewood derbies and the Scout Oath. The organization’s founding is attributed to American businessman William Boyce, inspired by a scout’s good deed in London.
Despite its rich history, the organization faced legal challenges and controversies. In 1990, an Eagle Scout was expelled for being gay, leading to a lawsuit that reached the U.S. Supreme Court, where the Scouts’ right to maintain exclusive membership criteria was upheld. The ban on gay members was lifted in 2013, with further changes in 2015 to allow gay adult leaders, though religious units could still exclude them.
In 2017, the organization permitted transgender boys to join boys-only programs following an incident involving an 8-year-old in New Jersey. The Boy Scouts also dealt with numerous sexual abuse claims and sought bankruptcy protection in 2020. In 2023, a judge approved a $2.4 billion bankruptcy plan to compensate over 80,000 abuse claimants while allowing the organization to continue operations.
Scouting America’s President and CEO Roger Krone acknowledged some backlash to the rebranding but noted that it also sparked interest. “The fact that we were going with a more kind of gender-neutral name, a lot of people kind of wanted to know more about it,” Krone remarked.
The organization reported a membership increase of about 16,000 new scouts, less than a 2% rise from the previous year, with total membership just over 1 million.
