Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on February 27, 2026 that Scouting America has agreed to end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and adopt sex-based policies for membership applications and private facilities as part of a deal to preserve the organization’s long-running relationship with the U.S. military. Scouting America said it is updating some program elements to comply with President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14173 while keeping its current name and continuing to welcome girls.
On February 27, 2026, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced in a video message and social media posts that Scouting America—formerly the Boy Scouts of America—had agreed to a set of changes the Pentagon says are required for the organization to continue receiving Defense Department support.
Hegseth criticized shifts he said began after 2012, arguing that the Scouts “lost their way” as diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives expanded, the organization admitted girls, and religious language was broadened to include what he described as “humanism” and “Earth-centered pagan religions.”
Hegseth said the agreement is tied to President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14173, titled “Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity,” and warned that Pentagon backing could be withdrawn if Scouting America does not follow through. He described long-standing Pentagon assistance as including personnel support and access to Defense Department equipment, installations, facilities and office space.
Among the steps Hegseth outlined: a review to remove what he called “politicized, divisive, and discriminatory language” across programs and publications; the discontinuation of the “Citizenship in Society” merit badge, which the Pentagon characterized as DEI-related; and the creation of a new merit badge focused on military service and veterans.
Hegseth also said Scouting America will clarify that membership is determined by “biological sex at birth,” with applications listing only “male” and “female,” and that the sex designation must match an applicant’s birth certificate. He said the organization would also adopt policies to ensure that “biological boys and biological girls” do not share intimate spaces such as toilets, showers and tents.
In a statement, Scouting America said it has been in discussions with Defense Department leadership for several months to align on how to deepen service to military families while making updates to comply with Executive Order 14173. The organization said it will keep the name “Scouting America” and continue to welcome girls, and it highlighted initiatives including waiving registration fees for military families, launching a new merit badge focused on military service and veterans, and reinforcing what it called Scouting’s foundational ideas: leadership, character, duty to God, duty to country and service.
The Pentagon will keep Scouting America under scrutiny for six months and then review progress to decide whether to continue its support, according to Hegseth.
However, the agreement’s practical effect on transgender youth remained unclear based on Hegseth’s public statements. The Washington Post reported that Scouting America said youth have long joined by biological sex and that it will continue to accept transgender youth, describing existing safeguarding policies intended to ensure safety and comfort for all participants.
Hegseth has publicly said he would prefer the organization return to the “Boy Scouts” name, though he indicated that, under the current deal, Scouting America may keep its current branding and girls may continue to participate.
