The War Department, led by Secretary Pete Hegseth, reached an agreement with Scouting America that conditions continued support on the organization removing diversity, equity and inclusion programs and restoring clearer, male-centered policies for youth activities. This move follows months of debate over the Scouts’ direction and a 2025 review tied to Executive Order 14173. The memorandum of understanding outlines concrete changes to program language, membership forms, merit badges and rules for intimate spaces. The outcome allows Scouting America to resume activities on military installations while committing to those reforms.
Department of War officials had been considering ending the partnership with Scouting America after concluding the group had drifted from its original mission. Secretary Hegseth argued the organization had “lost their way” after 2012, with policies he viewed as promoting gender confusion and prioritizing DEI over merit. He pointed to changes in name and emphasis that, in his view, diluted the traditional focus on building boys into men. That critique drove a series of discussions between the War Department and scout leadership to find a path forward.
The decision to pause a cutoff and instead offer conditional support came after Scouting America agreed to concrete reforms spelled out in a signed memorandum of understanding. Among the commitments was a review and replacement of language deemed politicized, divisive or discriminatory across programs and publications. Secretary Hegseth emphasized one line: “No more DEI. Zero,” as a benchmark for those reforms. Those changes were presented as necessary to restore a merit-based youth program aligned with military values.
One of the most visible changes is the elimination of a “citizenship in society” merit badge requirement that previously tied advancement to learning about “diversity, equity, inclusion and ethical leadership.” Scouting America agreed to discontinue that mandatory step for Life Scouts seeking Eagle Scout rank. The organization also committed to revising its membership and participation policies to provide only “male” and “female” as sex designations on applications and to separate biological boys and biological girls in intimate settings. These policy shifts were framed as protecting privacy and safety in toilets, showers and tents, and extending the same standards to leaders and volunteers.
The Department of War linked its initial concern to President Trump’s January 21, 2025 Executive Order 14173, “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” saying the scouts’ prior policies conflicted with that directive. The secretary explained his motivation for pressing the issue as enforcing the spirit of that executive order and ensuring organizations receiving support follow merit-based standards. Hegseth also noted he met with scouting leadership before making any major decision to convey the department’s concerns directly. The talks produced the “key reforms” officials described as the basis for continued support.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth today announced that the War Department will conditionally continue to provide support to Scouting America — formerly the Boy Scouts of America — following the youth organization’s commitment to pull all diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives from its program.
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“After 2012, however, the Boy Scouts lost their way, and a once-great organization became gravely wounded. [DEI] crept in, the name was changed to ‘Scouting America,’ girls were accepted [and] the focus on God as the ruler of the universe was watered down to include openness to humanism and Earth-centered pagan religions,” Hegseth said during his address.
War Department officials made clear that the reforms carry practical benefits: Scouting America will be allowed to hold activities on U.S. military installations and use DOW logistical support in the United States, its territories and authorized foreign locations. That access had been at risk, so the memorandum restores operational ties while making support conditional on sustained compliance. Hegseth said periodic updates will track Scouting America’s adherence to the agreed changes and that further steps would follow if the organization strays again.
The secretary said his motivation for cutting ties with the scouts was linked to what he said are the organization’s violations of President Donald J. Trump’s Jan. 21, 2025, Executive Order 14173, titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity.”
“But, before making this big change, I decided to meet with the current scouting leadership to convey our deep concerns,” Hegseth said, adding that Scouting America eventually agreed to several “key reforms” based on a series of ongoing conversations between Scouting America, himself and other senior War Department officials.
Supporters of the agreement say it steers Scouting America back toward its original mission of developing boys into men while protecting traditional values and privacy. The MOU explicitly bans DEI initiatives and requires policy language changes across programs, aiming to remove perceived politicization. Those who pushed for the reforms view this as a corrective that aligns the organization with merit-based standards respected by the military and conservative families. Secretary Hegseth described the move as a step toward restoring a program that serves boys and their development in a straightforward, values-driven way.
“Ideally, I believe the Boy Scouts should go back to being the Boy Scouts as originally founded: a group that develops boys into men,” Hegseth stated while noting periodic updates would be forthcoming on Scouting America’s adherence progress.
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