Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced that Scouting America, formerly the Boy Scouts of America, has agreed to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and clarify that membership is based solely on biological sex at birth in order to maintain its longstanding relationship with the military.
The Department of War had threatened to withdraw its support, including access to military bases and logistical assistance for major events such as the 2026 National Jamboree in West Virginia, because the organization embraced “radical, woke ideology.” An agreement has now been reached.
Under the deal, Scouting America will immediately comply with Executive Order 14173, eliminate DEI programs, and discontinue a DEI-related merit badge which had become a requirement to make Eagle Scout. Applications will list only male or female, consistent with the applicant’s birth certificate, and biological boys and girls will not share intimate spaces such as tents, showers, or restrooms.
In addition, the organization will waive registration fees for children of active-duty, Guard, and Reserve families and introduce a new military-service merit badge in partnership with the Department of War.
In exchange, Scouting America will retain its name and continue admitting girls, at least for now. Hegseth said the Department’s continued support is contingent on substantial progress over the next six months and warned that failure to comply could result in termination of military backing. He added that, ideally, the organization should return to its original identity as a group focused on developing boys into men.
Scouting America emphasized its historic ties to the armed forces, noting that Scouts are more likely than the general population to serve in uniform and that Eagle Scouts are heavily represented in ROTC programs, service academies and military leadership tracks.
The organization said it engaged in months of dialogue with the Department of War and framed the agreement as a strengthened partnership focused on serving military families and reinforcing leadership, character, duty to God and duty to country.
Scouting America also stated that youth have always joined according to their biological sex and that transgender youth, who have been accepted since 2017, will continue to be welcomed under its existing policies.
Modern Scouting is a mere shadow of its former self. At its peak in 1972, it had roughly 6.5 million total members, including Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts and Explorers. At that time, about 31 percent of all American boys between the ages of 10 and 19 were involved in Scouting. The 1960s and early 1970s were considered the “Golden Age” of the movement, fueled by post-World War II civic engagement and the massive “Boypower ’76” recruitment campaign.
Today, with the word “Boy” removed from the name, Scouting reports approximately 1 million youth members as of early 2026, including girls across all programs: Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing and Sea Scouts. While the Girl Scouts exist as a separate entity, girls now comprise roughly 20 percent of Scouting America’s total youth membership. That means only about 800,000 boys are currently involved in Scouting in any capacity.
Across social media, parents have offered a range of opinions about why Scouting has declined in popularity. While their explanations differ, the general consensus is that Scouting lost its way, abandoning its original mission and conforming to a softer culture driven by social agendas. The program strayed from the principles embodied in the Scout Oath: “On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.”
The original intent was to teach boys to become young men and leaders, pushing them through difficult outdoor challenges that built resilience and character. Eagle Scout, the organization’s highest award, used to be extremely difficult to earn. Only a small percentage of boys completed the rigorous requirements and received their letter from the president of the United States. Those who entered the military did so at the advanced rank of E-3, private first class, rather than E-1.
Today, many parents argue that standards have softened and that the award is given too freely, often due to parental or political pressure. The soccer participation-trophy mentality has watered down the meaning of Eagle Scout to the point that many employers no longer recognize it as a reliable sign of discipline, commitment and perseverance in the face of obstacles. In American schools and across society, children are increasingly taught to see themselves as victims rather than to persevere through hardship. If they experience even one second of discomfort, someone needs to be sued and taxes need to be raised.”
The idea that “boys will be boys” no longer exists in society or in Scouting. Activities that once built toughness, teamwork and confidence have been restricted or removed because of fears of lawsuits, insurance costs or parental complaints. Water guns, rough-and-tumble games, climbing, exploring and anything involving even minimal risk are restricted or eliminated. Like many institutions, by trying to become something for everyone instead of remaining focused on boys, Scouting has nearly committed organizational suicide.
Secretary of War Hegseth’s harsh treatment of the Scouts represents the kind of tough love that once defined the movement, pushing the organization to regain its mission and return to its former excellence.
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