Army’s Conditional Support for Scouting America Amid Changes

The U.S. Army’s Department of the Army (DOW) will continue its conditional support for Scouting America, which has shifted away from its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative (DEI) following recent changes in ideology.

Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth indicated that he is considering withdrawing all support for the organization, which was previously known as the Boy Scouts of America, due to a cultural shift within the organization. This was reported by Pentagon News on Friday.

“Since 2012, the Boy Scouts have indeed lost their direction,” Hegseth remarked, mentioning the impactful changes the organization has undergone. “They rebranded as ‘Scouting America,’ allowed girls to join, and somewhat diluted the emphasis on God, incorporating more tolerance for diverse ideologies.”

Breitbart News previously reported that Hegseth urged the military to cut ties with Scouting America, accusing it of adopting gender ideology and DEI practices that undermine traditional values.

He expressed concerns that after a century of support, the organization appears to be focused on “attacking boy-friendly spaces,” according to the report.

Hegseth noted that a potential reason for reevaluating the relationship stems from perceived violations of Executive Order 14173, which aims to eliminate unlawful discrimination and restore merit-based opportunities.

This executive order includes stipulations that DEI policies could conflict with longtime federal civil rights laws and potentially weaken core American values centered on hard work and individual achievements.

In response to these concerns, Hegseth engaged with Scout leaders, who have reportedly agreed to implement substantial reforms. This was part of a Memorandum of Partnership and Policy Coordination agreed upon to ensure compliance with Executive Order 14173.

“The organization will soon review and revise language across its programs and publications that may be seen as politicized or divisive. DEI is effectively done,” Hegseth stated.

Scouting America plans to reduce the DEI “social citizenship” merit badges required for Life Scouts aiming for the Eagle Scout rank.

According to the Pentagon report, the document outlines changes aimed at restoring collaboration between the DOW and Scouting America that promotes the spirit of youth preparing for military service, including the introduction of a Military Service Badge.

In response, Scouting America acknowledged the dialogue with department leaders over recent months, stating its commitment to better serve military families while complying with Executive Order 14173. However, they have retained their name and continued support for over 200,000 girls in their programs, emphasizing their historical involvement since the 1960s.

Hegseth mentioned that if substantial progress is not made in the next six months, the DOW would reconsider its support for the group.

“The responsibility to implement these changes lies with Scouting America. If their progress fails to meet our standards in terms of the agreed-upon reforms, we could conclude that they are not complying with the executive order, which would result in terminating our support,” he said.

“I think ideally, the Boy Scouts would return to their original mission: to foster boys into responsible men. Perhaps one day that could happen,” he concluded.