Monday, March 2, 2026
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The Pentagon has made a deal with Scouting America that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday would maintain their century-old partnership but refocus the organization away from diversity initiatives and other “woke” policies he accused it of embracing in recent years.
WASHINGTON —Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced on Friday that the Pentagon and Scouting America had reached an agreement that would preserve their century-old alliance while redirecting the group away from diversity programs and other "woke" ideas that he claimed it has adopted recently.
Scouting America will require members to use their "biological sex at birth and not gender identity," Hegseth said, emphasizing the organization's embrace of transgender youngsters. However, Scouting America, formerly the Boy Scouts of America, stated that transgender youngsters are welcome and that the agreement does not alter current policy.
Roger Krone, president and CEO of Scouting America, told The Associated Press, "We have transgender people in our program and we'll have transgender people in our program going forward."
The organization's January recommendations to the Pentagon, which included eliminating the Citizenship in Society merit badge, implementing a Military Service merit badge, and exempting children of military personnel from registration fees, are reflected in a number of the negotiated revisions.
The Pentagon has attacked the military's relationship with Scouting America under Hegseth, criticizing its historic 2024 rebranding and other recent changes that he believes are a result of "woke culture" initiatives that he wishes to eradicate.
In a video on X, Hegseth stated that only male and female options will be listed on Scouting America applications, and the option selected must match the applicant's birth certificate. He made no mention of how that might be implemented. According to him, the group would make it clear that children of different sexes allocated at birth are not permitted to share restrooms, tents, or other comparable areas.
According to Krone, there are currently only two options on the group's application—one for boys and one for girls—and they are already inquiring about the sex allocated at birth. He provided no explanation of how that was examined or applied.
"We don't put boys and girls together in intimate settings, and we need to know a little bit about them," he stated.
Although there are family troops that incorporate both genders, Krone noted that the organization's "structures" accommodate transgender youngsters without providing further information. According to him, nothing discussed with the Pentagon would alter the way the programs are operated.
In contrast, Hegseth stated in his video that if Scouting America does not comply, the Pentagon will "vigorously review" the organization's adjustments within six months and stop supporting it.
Hegseth stated, "We hope that doesn't happen, but it could." In my opinion, the Boy Scouts should ideally return to their fundamental purpose of helping youngsters grow into men. Perhaps one day.
