Pentagon Discussing Severing Longstanding Ties with Scouts

WASHINGTON D.C. – The U.S. Department of War is reportedly preparing to sever its century-old partnership with Scouting America—formerly the Boy Scouts of America. According to draft documents obtained by National Public Radio, War Secretary Pete Hegseth argues that the youth organization has drifted away from traditional military values citing its “genderless” inclusion policies.

In a draft memo to Congress, Secretary Hegseth allegedly criticized Scouting America for embracing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and abandoning what he called “meritocracy” that “holds members accountable to meet high standards.” Last February, the 115-year old Boy Scouts changed its name to “Scouting America” in an effort to rebrand as “gender-neutral,” which followed a three-year bankruptcy ordeal stemming from the largest child sex abuse scandal involving a national organization in U.S. history.

Secretary Hegseth further contended that Scouting America has become an organization that puts “boy-friendly spaces” under attack rather than fulfilling its original mission to “cultivate masculine values.” From 2015 to 2019, the Boy Scouts began allowing homosexual men to serve as troop leaders and then invited girl members into the Boy Scouts.

While the military has supported the scouting organization for more than a century, the partnership was formalized in 1937. However, Secretary Hegseth stated in the unsubmitted memo, “The organization once endorsed by President Theodore Roosevelt no longer supports the future of American boys.”

The War Department’s proposal to the House and Senate Armed Services committee calls for no longer allowing Scouts to meet on military installations, suspending logistical assistance, and to no longer deploy resources to the National Scout Jamboree unless Congress overrides the directive. Currently federal law requires the Pentagon to support the Jamboree with logistical vehicles and medical teams, but the law allows the Pentagon to withhold that aid if “detrimental to national security.” 

The draft memo allegedly reveals Secretary Hegseth invoking that exemption by claiming that Scouting America fosters “gender confusion” which does not align with President Donald Trump’s agenda, as well as citing commitments to border security operations and other worldwide operational requirements.

Liberty Counsel Action President John Stemberger, a founding board member of Trail Life USA, a conservative scouting alternative, said Scouting America’s steady moral compromise has made it unfit to continue a partnership with the military.

“The Pentagon’s move to step back from Scouting America did not happen in a vacuum,” said Stemberger. “It is the natural result of an organization that has been intentionally moving away from its founding purpose, namely turning boys into men. For generations, the Boy Scouts taught boys how to grow into capable, grounded men through challenge, discipline, and the guidance of other men. Those values aligned closely with the military’s key needs: character, toughness, and resilience.

“Scouting is no longer a safe and trusted American institution. By allowing boys to camp and sleep with openly gay-identified boys and allowing boys identifying as transgendered girls to camp and sleep with each other violates basic youth protection principles and creates an environment ripe for sexual abuse between minors. The military should not be involved with this type of an organization creating confusion and risky scenarios for young people.”

“The Pentagon’s decision is a wake-up call,” continued Stemberger. “A scouting organization that has become woke and political and no longer embraces the strengths of boyhood and the journey toward manhood simply cannot serve as a partner for the military that relies on courage, discipline, and purpose.”

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