That is, if they want to keep the support of the military. This was announced as a major change for the organization previously known as the Boy Scouts.
By Catholics for Catholics
Pete Hegseth, Secretary of War announced the Pentagon will for the time being support Scouting America, following the youth organization’s “commitment to pull all diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives from its program.”
In a video, Hegseth said he had been deliberating ceasing “all support” to Scouting America, the nonprofit previously called the Boy Scouts of America, after “DEI crept in,” according to a story by The Epoch Times.
Scouting America has signed a memorandum of understanding stating that it will comply with an executive order from President Donald Trump that aimed to bar DEI efforts in the public and private sectors, Hegseth said.
Hegseth said Scouting America consented to apply changes, mentioning five, while indicating there were more, according to The New York Post.
“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,” he declared.
Hegseth said that a DEI-related merit badge has been discontinued.
🚨BOYS: Department of War puts Scouting America on notice!
— Kev Posobiec (@KevinPosobiec) February 27, 2026
Executive Order 14173 formally requests an end to all DEI policies in the Scouts.
Trust & Verify. Six months from now we may see a return of The (not fake & gay) Boy Scouts. For God & Country!pic.twitter.com/ORJ7bO8xtI
“Third, Scouting America will modify its policy to make clear that membership will be based solely on biological sex at birth and not gender identity,” he said. “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,” Hegseth noted.
“Fourth, Scouting America will honor those who serve by waiving the registration fees for children of active duty, guard, and reserve families,” he noted. “Fifth, in partnership with the War Department, Scouting America will introduce a new military service merit badge.”
In a statement on Friday, the organization said “Scouting America is proud to uphold our longstanding commitment to military families across the globe through a renewed, strengthened partnership with the Department of War. Over several months, we engaged in dialogue with Department leadership to align on how we could deepen our service to military families, while making programmatic updates to comply with Executive Order 14173.”
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