Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has been clear that pushing DEI will not be tolerated in the military or among groups hoping to maintain relationships with the Pentagon. Now, Scouting America, formerly known as the Boy Scouts, will alter several policies to maintain its relationship.
On February 3rd, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced that Scouting America was working with the Department of War on reforms to end DEI and woke gender ideology.
Parnell wrote, “From Day One at the War Department, we have made it very clear: No more DEI at DoW. Zero tolerance.”
“As a result, over the past several months, the Department of War has been reviewing its relationship with Scouting America—formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America. A great organization, that has — in many ways — lost its way.”
“On January 21st, 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14173: “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” terminating radical DEl preferencing in federal contracting. All of our affiliations must meet this standard.
But, for more than a decade now, Scouting America’s leadership has made decisions that run counter to the values of this administration and this Department of War, including an embrace of DEl and other social justice, gender-fluid ideological stances. This is unacceptable.”
“Our review of the DoW’s financial assistance and partnership with Scouting America, including its quadrennial National Jamboree celebration, has been rigorous and ongoing. Scouting America remains far from perfect, but they have firmly committed to a return to core principles. Back to God and country—immediately!”
“Scouting America and the Department of War are near a final agreement where we believe we can continue our partnership with Scouting America, as long as the organization rapidly implements the common-sense, core value reforms. They are on the clock, and we are watching.”
STATEMENT:
From Day One at the War Department, we have made it very clear: No more DEI at DoW. Zero tolerance.
As a result, over the past several months, the Department of War has been reviewing its relationship with Scouting America—formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America.…
— Sean Parnell (@SeanParnellASW) February 3, 2026
On Friday, Secretary of War Hegseth announced that Scouting America will alter several policies, including a requirement that members use “biological sex at birth and not gender identity.”
Hegseth shared on X, “For more than a century, Boy Scouts of America prepared over 130 million American boys to make moral and ethical choices, not just during their formative years, but for a lifetime as they grew into men. The first few words of the Scout oath exemplify this, quote, ‘On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country.'”
“The Boy Scouts are embedded in our communities. They’re sponsored by community organizations, service clubs, and churches. Many Boy Scouts have gone on to senior leadership positions in their communities and business in our nation’s military and has elected representatives in local, state, and national office.”
“Six Boy Scouts have been elected President of the United States. Eleven of the twelve men to walk on the moon? Boy Scouts. Boy Scout training focused on responsible citizenship, character and leadership development, patriotism, personal fitness, self-reliance, faith, and a wide range of outdoor skills. It was a great program, and this department had a close relationship with the Scouts almost since its inception, as many troops meet on military bases.”
“After 2012, however, the Boy Scouts lost their way, and a once great organization became gravely wounded. Diversity, equity, and inclusion, DEI, crept in. The name was changed to Scouting America. Girls were accepted. The focus on God as the ruler of the universe was watered down to include openness to humanism and Earth-centered pagan religions. Scouting became an organization that no longer supported and celebrated boys.”
“They even welcomed the destructive myth of gender fluidity and transgenderism to infiltrate their membership. Along the way, standards were lowered and merit destroyed in favor of an insidious, radical, woke ideology that is anti- America and anti-American.”
“The result? Membership cratered. Americans didn’t want this. In 1970, 10 million boys participated in Boy Scouts. Currently, less than 1 million boys and girls participate. Further, many of these community organizations that once supported Scout troops withdrew their support. And Scouting America, the parent organization, filed for bankruptcy protection.”
“The changes Scouting America made since 2012 have also jeopardized the relationship with this department. And I was very seriously considering ending our support of scouting altogether. We have a Department to protect, after all. Beyond that, the policies Scouting America have in place violate President Trump’s executive order, 14173, entitled ‘Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-based Opportunities.’ But before making this big change, I decided to meet with the current scouting leadership to convey our deep concerns.”
“Based on that face-to-face conversation and subsequent conversations, Scouting America agreed to make several key reforms. Let me briefly highlight a few of them.”
“First, Scouting America has agreed to comply immediately with the provisions of Executive Order 14173. This includes reviewing and replacing politicized, divisive, and discriminatory language throughout the organization, programs, and all publications. No more DEI, zero.”
“Second, the quote, ‘Citizen in Society’ merit badge that encouraged scouts to explore diversity, equity, inclusion, and identity, they always mask it under a name that sounds great, but it’s doing something else, and then ask those scouts to engage in activism on those topics. That badge has been discontinued.”
“Third, Scouting America Scouting will modify its policy to make clear that membership will be based solely on biological sex at birth and not gender identity. That means that the application, any application, will have only two sex designations, male and female, and the application must match the applicant’s birth certificate. Scouting will also make clear that biological boys and girls will not be allowed to occupy or share intimate spaces together, toilets, showers, tents, anywhere like that.”
“Fourth, Scouting America will honor those who serve by waiving the registration fees for children of active duty, guard, and reserve families. Should have happened a long time ago.”
“Fifth, in partnership with the War Department, Scouting America will introduce a new military service merit badge. These and other changes that Scouting America’s leadership committed to, in that room right over there, will hopefully result in a rededication to the foundational ideals that have defined scouting for generations. Duty to God and country, leadership, character, and service. However, as President Reagan famously said, ‘trust but verify.'”
“This agreement is new, and the Department’s support for Scouting America is contingent on them making substantial progress toward reaching these and many other positive changes in the next six months. At that time, we’ll vigorously review progress and decide whether or not to continue our support.”
“The onus is squarely on Scouting America to deliver. If we’re unsatisfied with Scouting America’s progress toward and commitment to the agreed upon reforms, we will find them in violation of the President’s Executive Order and cease our support. We hope that doesn’t happen, but it could.”
“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. There are also additional youth and boys organizations, groups like Trail Life USA and Awana Clubs, that are already compliant with President Trump’s Executive Order that the department may eventually support as well.”
“But we’re watching and we’re watching closely. We look forward to providing you with updates after our six-month review, and wish the best to Scouting America.”
Watch:
The Department of War has officially put Scouting America on notice.
It’s time to get back to basics — and DoW is leading the charge. pic.twitter.com/EnY9mvaFLX
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) February 27, 2026
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