The decision stems from the view that the organization has lost its original mission by pursuing excessive political correctness (PC). Some experts warn that the move could weaken the longstanding link between the U.S. military and American civil society.
According to an internal Pentagon memo obtained by leading U.S. outlets such as Newsweek and The Hill on the 26th, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth strongly criticized Scouting America in a draft report to Congress, saying the organization “no longer adheres to meritocracy” and has “transformed from a space for boys into an organization that attacks boys.”
Hegseth cited the group’s decision in 2019 to allow girls to join, its recent rebranding from “Boy Scouts” to “Scouting America,” and its emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies—arguing these shifts depart from traditional masculine values and military discipline.
He wrote that the organization long supported by President Theodore Roosevelt “no longer supports the future of American boys.” This move is interpreted not merely as a budget cut, but as the expansion of America’s ongoing “culture war” into national defense policy.
While Scouting in Korea is generally viewed as a camping-oriented youth group, in the U.S. it has long held a unique status as a “school for future citizens.” Since its founding in 1910, about 130 million Americans have participated in Scouting programs.
Eleven of the twelve astronauts who walked on the Moon—including Neil Armstrong—were former Scouts. Many popular U.S. presidents, including John F. Kennedy, Gerald Ford, and Bill Clinton, participated in Scouting. President Ford once said, “Thanks to Scouting principles, I became a better naval officer and a better president.”
For decades, being a Scout has been viewed as a strong credential for reliability and leadership in American society. During the 2017 National Jamboree, President Donald Trump praised Scouting, saying “there is no better citizen than a Boy Scout,” and noted that ten members of his Cabinet had Scouting backgrounds.
The military–Scouting connection remains deep. According to Navy Secretary John P. Roth, roughly one-third of Navy officer candidates have Scouting experience, and 20% of U.S. Air Force Academy graduates are former Scouts. Nevertheless, Hegseth argues the organization has been “captured by the left” and has decided to end the relationship entirely.
Scouting opened membership to gay youth in 2013, to gay adult leaders in 2015, and to transgender youth in 2017—moves that drew strong backlash from conservative Christian groups. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (the Mormon Church), once the organization’s largest supporter, fully ended its relationship with Scouting in 2019.
In 2020, Scouting America faced tens of thousands of lawsuits related to decades of child sexual abuse claims. More than 80,000 victims were identified, involving incidents from the 1940s through the 2010s. The organization sought bankruptcy protection and agreed to a $2.4 billion settlement, suffering significant moral and reputational damage.
U.S. media note that Scouting has since operated under court supervision and has been negotiating settlements with victims, making it increasingly difficult for the federal government to continue substantial support for such a controversial organization.
Under the measures outlined in the leaked memo, the Pentagon will end support for the National Jamboree, a large-scale event held every four years at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia. Since the first Jamboree in Washington, D.C. in 1937, the U.S. military has provided tents, medical facilities, communications equipment, helicopters, and even Air Force fighter-jet demonstrations free of charge. The Jamboree has served not only as a Scouting event but also as a major civilian-support training exercise for the military and a key pipeline for inspiring patriotism and future recruits.
Scouting activities on overseas U.S. military bases will also be prohibited. Bases such as Ramstein Air Base in Germany and Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan have long supported Scouting programs for military families. These groups have served as critical communities for children adapting to frequent relocations. NPR quoted a veteran of the Iraq War with three children, who said, “We moved constantly—from Louisiana to Alaska to Germany and back to Texas—but every base had Scouts, and it helped our kids adjust. It feels like the Department of Defense is prioritizing political messaging over military families.”
Traditionally, the military has granted benefits to recruits who achieved the highest Scouting rank, Eagle Scout. Eagle Scouts must earn at least 21 merit badges and serve in leadership roles for at least six months. The military typically allowed Eagle Scouts to enter service at higher ranks such as E-2 or E-3 instead of E-1, with corresponding pay increases. These benefits are now expected to be discontinued as well.
Experts say the situation goes beyond cost-saving measures and reflects an expansion of ideological conflict into national security. The Pentagon has declined to comment on the leaked memo, saying only that it does not discuss “pre-decisional documents.”
Scouting America is already preparing for next summer’s National Jamboree, but the loss of Pentagon support is expected to create significant operational challenges.
Roger Krone, CEO of Scouting America, issued a statement saying, “Scouting is non-partisan and has always developed young people who serve our nation. Claims that meritocracy has disappeared are false; Scout badges and ranks are still earned, not given.”
JENNIFER KIM
US ASIA JOURNAL
