The Pentagon announced Friday that Scouting America has agreed to make several policy changes, including adjustments affecting transgender youth, to maintain U.S. military support. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the organization committed to reforms the department requested over the past six months.
Among the changes the Pentagon cited are dropping the Citizenship in Society merit badge and creating a new Military Service merit badge. Scouting America also pledged program elements aimed at military families — including waiving registration fees for children of active-duty, Guard and Reserve members — and said it will emphasize leadership, character, duty to God, duty to country and service.
Hegseth had closely scrutinized the military’s partnership with Scouting America after the group’s 2024 rebrand from the Boy Scouts and policy shifts he criticized as part of “woke culture.” He said the department had considered ending support, arguing the organization had “lost their way” as diversity, equity and inclusion efforts spread and attention to God declined. The secretary warned the Pentagon would “vigorously review” the changes and could cut support if Scouting America does not follow through.
Scouting America responded that it is “proud to uphold our longstanding commitment to military families” through a renewed partnership with the Pentagon. The organization said it will keep its name and continue serving more than 200,000 girls in its programs. The agreement, it said, ensures continued Scouting on military installations worldwide, Department support for national jamborees and other events, plus the new benefit of waived registration fees for eligible military children.
Earlier this month, the Pentagon criticized Scouting America’s DEI efforts as “unacceptable” and said the relationship was under review. Officials signaled the organization could retain the partnership by rapidly implementing what the department described as “common-sense, core value reforms” and urged a swift return “to God and country.”
The military and the Boy Scouts have long-standing ties: the armed forces have provided logistical support for the National Boy Scout Jamboree since 1937, sponsored units and activities on bases, and maintained connections to Eagle Scouts, many of whom later serve in the military.
Reports on Scouting America’s response to Hegseth’s concerns said the group planned to dissolve its DEI advisory committee, waive registration fees for military members, introduce a Military Service merit badge, discontinue the Citizenship in Society badge, and hold a rededication ceremony stressing leadership and service.
Scouting America’s recent history includes several social changes. The organization began allowing gay youth in 2013 and lifted a blanket ban on gay adult leaders in 2015 while permitting church-sponsored units to set religiously based criteria. It announced acceptance of transgender students in 2017 and began admitting girls as Cub Scouts in 2018 and into Scouts BSA in 2019. By May 2024, more than 6,000 girls had earned the Eagle Scout rank.
The organization also confronted a wave of sexual abuse claims, filing for bankruptcy protection in 2020 amid hundreds of lawsuits and thousands of reported incidents. In 2023, a judge approved a $2.4 billion bankruptcy plan to allow the organization to continue operating while compensating more than 80,000 claimants.
Scouting America’s 2024 rebrand prompted mixed reactions. President and CEO Roger Krone acknowledged backlash but said it sparked wider interest and modest membership gains — about 16,000 new scouts, under 2% growth, bringing total membership to slightly more than 1 million.
The Pentagon said it will monitor implementation of the agreed changes and could end support if Scouting America does not comply with the reforms.