Army Issues Warning to Scouting America Over DEI Initiatives
On Monday, the U.S. Department of the Army issued a formal warning to Scouting America, previously known as the Boy Scouts of America. The department stated that the organization must withdraw its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives or face the risk of losing its longstanding partnership with the federal government.
President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order on January 21, 2025, aimed at “Ending unlawful discrimination and restoring merit-based opportunity.” This order effectively eliminated DEI preferences in federal contracts and mandated that government organizations revert to merit-based standards.
Following this directive, Army spokesperson Sean Parnell announced via X that the department is “actively reviewing its relationship” with Scouting America. While recognizing the organization’s storied history, Parnell emphasized that it seems to have strayed from its original mission by adopting what he termed far-left ideologies.
“From day one at the Department of the Army, we have been clear: DEI is no more at the Department of Defense. We have zero tolerance,” Parnell stated.
“Over the past several months, the Department of the Army has been reevaluating its relationship with Scouting America, a great organization that has lost its way in many ways… Leadership decisions have run counter to our values, including the embrace of DEI and other progressive social positions. This is unacceptable.”
Scouting America, established in 1910, has seen a number of significant changes, particularly since 2018 when it allowed girls to join its Cub Scout program. This was followed by girls being permitted to earn the prestigious Eagle Scout rank in 2019. The organization has also broadened its membership to include openly gay adult leaders and transgender youth.
The relationship between Scouting America and LGBTQ+ inclusion has been fraught. For decades, the organization had policies that banned gay leaders—a stance upheld by the Supreme Court in 2000 but later overturned in favor of allowing gay youth leaders in 2013 and adult leaders in 2015.
Unlike previous debates regarding membership, the organization faced a serious issue of widespread sexual abuse. An internal “unqualified volunteer file” failed to prevent leaders accused of misconduct from moving between groups, which contributed to a bankruptcy filing in 2020 and a record $2.46 billion settlement to compensate over 82,000 abuse victims.
In a more lighthearted context, comedian Whitney Cummings joked during the 2025 New Year’s Eve broadcast about the rebranding to Scouting America, suggesting it was an attempt to distance the organization from its troubled legal history.
“The Boy Scouts of America changed their name to Scouting America. You know who else changed their name? Sean Combs,” Cummings quipped.
As the Trump administration continues to apply pressure on federally supported organizations, Army Secretary Pete Hegseth earlier banned certain progressive initiatives and reinstated standards concerning fitness and grooming in the military.
Under the Biden administration, the Army introduced a Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), initially intended to be gender-neutral but later adjusted to accommodate different passing criteria based on gender, drawing criticism for potentially undermining military readiness. Hegseth later reverted to a more rigorous, gender-neutral standard for select combat roles.
After Parnell’s announcement, Scouting America seemed to respond positively to the Trump administration’s requests, noting discussions were underway.
“While American Scouting is still far from perfect, they are committed to returning to basic principles. Return to God and Country now!” Parnell hinted at forthcoming changes.
Founded with deep American roots in military values, the Boy Scouts have historically enjoyed strong support from the Department of Defense, providing resources and support for events like the National Jamboree. Many Eagle Scouts go on to join the military at higher ranks, and a notable percentage of military cadets credit their early leadership experiences to scouting.
