Scouts ‘surprised and deeply saddened’ by Hegseth’s proposal to cut ties

The Hill ^ | 11/25/25 12:08 PM ET | Ellen Mitchell

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Scouting America responded on Tuesday to a reported memo from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth seeking to cut ties with the organization, saying it was “surprised and disappointed” by the potential policy change, as the military has given its support to the Scouts since 1937. 

Congress requires the Pentagon to support Scouting America’s Jamboree, lending trucks, ambulances and medical teams free of charge.

“The Scouting movement has had a strong relationship with our nation’s military going back more than a century,” according to the group. “From the tremendous support of the West Virginia National Guard at our National Jamborees to Scout troops that provide stability for the children of military families deployed around the globe, our nation’s military has walked side-by-side with Scouts for generations.”

It also noted that “an enormous percentage of those in our military academies are Scouts and Eagle Scouts.”

Hegseth is reportedly upset with the group for promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. His memo, first reported by NPR, accuses Scouting America — formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America — of attacking boy-friendly spaces and for being “genderless.” The memo has yet to be sent to Congress.

“The organization once endorsed by President Theodore Roosevelt no longer supports the future of American boys,” Hegseth wrote in the memo.

The proposal calls for the Pentagon to pull medical and logistical aid to the National Jamboree, an event where up to 20,000 Scouts gather at a remote site in West Virginia about every four years. It also looks to prohibit Scouting troops from meeting at military installations in the U.S. and abroad.

In a statement to The Hill, a Pentagon official said the department “will not comment on leaked documents that we cannot authenticate and that may be pre-decisional.”

But Hegseth can withhold such aid  if he determines giving...

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TOPICS: Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: affirmativeaction; boyscouts; bsa; dei; diversity; gayscouts; groomers; grooming; lgbt; lgbtq; scouting; scoutingamerica; scoutmaster; scouts; transgender; woke; wokeism

[JeepersFreepers]

I could not agree more with P8riot. Trail Life USA is a great alternative to what was the BSA. My son-in-law is in a leadership position both for the area and the local troop. Two of my grandchildren are members.

From the Trail Life USA Website: "Trail Life USA is a Church-Based, Christ-Centered, Boy-Focused mentoring and discipleship journey that speaks to the heart of a boy. Established on timeless values derived from the Bible and set in the context of outdoor adventure, boys from age 5 to 17 are engaged in a Troop setting by male mentors where they are challenged to grow in character, understand their purpose, serve their community, and develop practical leadership skills to carry out the mission for which they were created."

[griffin]

FAFO

[teeman8r]

i am a scout master. been involved for twenty years. the boys and girls deserve a chance to build character. our program emphasizes the positive and minimizes the woke. cubscouts are coed. scouts are separated. i am not long for the program, but our program builds leaders.

children need it. many single parent moms, we provide a strong male role model. it has changed, but we hold on to the core mission for boys and girls to grow to be better citizens.

[WKUHilltopper]

Good! It’s been destroyed by perverts. I call them the Blow Scouts.

[Russ]

Hegseth is Secretary of War (and a damn good one).