Scouting America — previously known as Boy Scouts of America — is tightening its relationship with the U.S. Department of Defense and eliminating its DEI Committee and its “Citizenship in Society” merit badge.
The changes come in response to acknowledged pressure from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who reportedly never was involved in Scouting as a child but has freely criticized the organization as being too “woke.”
Scouting America Chief Executive Roger Krone
A public statement from Scouting America Chief Executive Roger Krone repeatedly refers to the Department of Defense as the Department of War — a name change Hegseth wants but that has not been approved by Congress.
Despite multiple concessions made by Scouting America, the organization refused to go back to its previous policy of being a boys-only program and refused to change its name back to Boy Scouts of America.
In a video about the dialogue between the Scouts and the Pentagon, Hegseth said: “Ideally, I believe the Boy Scouts should go back to being the Boy Scouts as originally founded: a group that develops boys into men. Maybe someday.” Hegseth also wanted the group to ban transgender Scouts.
Krone’s statement said none of that will happen: “Scouting America will continue to welcome and serve all youth. That commitment is unwavering.”
Scouting America has eliminated its Citizenship in Society merit badge, which is earned by scouts who “realize the benefits of diversity, equity, inclusion and ethical leadership.”
In return for its concessions — which Hegseth already has said may not be enough — Scouting America gets to keep operating on U.S. military bases and enroll the children of U.S. military families.
“As an organization that has proudly served military families for over 116 years, our primary objective throughout this engagement was to maintain support for the youth and families who depend on us,” Krone said.
The group’s “core commitment to developing leaders of character for service to God, country and community” will not change, he added.
Krone said the DOD “is important to our organization and the military families we serve. Scouting has long been a source of stability — a uniform, a community, a set of values that travel with them wherever they go. Tens of thousands of Scouts participate in units that meet on or near military installations in the U.S. and abroad.”
Scouting America has been through a rough decade of challenges related to claims of child sexual abuse, declining enrollments and competition from other faith-based organizations.