Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that Scouting America, formerly the Boy Scouts of America, has agreed to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and clarify that membership is based solely on biological sex at birth in order to maintain its longstanding relationship with the military.
The Department of War had threatened to withdraw its support, including access to military bases and logistical assistance for major events such as the 2026 National Jamboree in West Virginia, because the organization embraced “radical, woke ideology.” An agreement has now been reached.
Under the deal, Scouting America will immediately comply with Executive Order 14173, eliminate DEI programs, and discontinue a DEI-related merit badge which had become a requirement to make Eagle Scout. Applications will list only male or female, consistent with the applicant’s birth certificate, and biological boys and girls will not share intimate spaces such as tents, showers, or restrooms.
In addition, the organization will waive registration fees for children of active-duty, Guard, and Reserve families and introduce a new military-service merit badge in partnership with the Department of War.
In exchange, Scouting America will retain its name and continue admitting girls, at least for now. Hegseth said the Department’s continued support is contingent on substantial progress over the next six months and warned that failure to comply could result in termination of military backing. He added that, ideally, the organization should return to its original identity as a group focused on developing boys into men.
Scouting America emphasized its historic ties to the armed forces, noting that Scouts are more likely than the general population to serve in uniform and that Eagle Scouts are heavily represented in ROTC programs, service academies and military leadership tracks.
The organization said it engaged in months of dialogue with the Department of War and framed the agreement as a strengthened partnership focused on serving military families and reinforcing leadership, character, duty to God and duty to country.
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