The Pentagon reported that it is preparing to end its partnership with Scouting America — formerly the Boy Scouts.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth said there are concerns that the group has shifted toward gender-neutral policies and DEI initiatives.
NPR first reported the possible break, citing draft Pentagon documents it reviewed.
According to NPR, Hegseth concluded the Scouts “are no longer a meritocracy” and have become an organization that “attacks boy-friendly spaces.”
In a draft memo to Congress obtained by the outlet, Hegseth criticized Scouting America’s adoption of “genderless” messaging and claimed the group’s modern direction no longer aligns with what he sees as the mission of cultivating leadership and resilience in boys.
The U.S. military has supported the Scouts for more than a century, with the relationship formalized in 1937.
That support has included allowing Scout troops to meet on military bases, deploying medical teams and logistical units to the National Scout Jamboree, and providing trucks, ambulances, and aviation demonstrations.
Under draft guidance reviewed by NPR, all of that support would end.
A source told NPR the memos were prepared to notify Congress but have not yet been transmitted. The Pentagon declined to discuss the matter with NPR, saying it would not comment on leaked documents that “may be pre-decisional.”
Scouting America defended its decades-long ties to the military, telling NPR that it has worked productively with every presidential administration.
“Scouting is and has always been a nonpartisan organization,” the statement said, emphasizing its mission of developing leaders grounded in integrity and service.
Federal law requires the Pentagon to support the Jamboree — but allows the War secretary to withhold aid if he determines it would be “detrimental to national security.”
NPR reported that Hegseth is preparing to invoke that exception, arguing that shifting military manpower to the Jamboree diverts resources from border security and other operational priorities.
Draft documents cited by NPR accused the Scouts of fostering “gender confusion” and abandoning their legacy of “cultivating masculine values.”
Hegseth has publicly criticized the organization before, saying it undermined its own foundation by admitting girls in 2018 and changing its name last year.
The potential break is already creating friction inside the War Department, according to the report.
Navy Secretary John Phelan, in a memo reviewed by NPR, warned the shift may be “too restrictive,” noting that up to one-third of Navy officers in training have a Scouting background.
He argued that allowing Scout programs on bases serves as a quiet but valuable recruiting tool.
Scouting involvement has long been linked to military service. Roughly 20% of service academy cadets are Eagle Scouts, and enlistees who hold the Eagle rank currently qualify for advanced standing and higher initial pay — a benefit that would disappear if the partnership ends.
One draft letter to Scouting America’s leadership, NPR reported, laid out the support the Pentagon would withdraw and ends by wishing the group “a safe and successful National Scout Jamboree.”
NBC News reported in April that the Pentagon was reevaluating its ties to the Scouts. A Pentagon spokesman said at the time that all partnerships are reviewed to ensure they align with President Donald Trump’s agenda and the department’s mission.
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