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The U.S. Department of Defense is reportedly considering severing its decades-long relationship with Scouting America, the organization formerly known as the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The potential move is being driven by top advisers to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who argue the youth organization has become too "woke" to receive continued support.
At the forefront of this effort is Tami Radabaugh, a senior adviser to Hegseth, who has been actively lobbying to suspend the Pentagon's partnership. According to internal discussions, Radabaugh's position is that the organization has strayed from its original values, a view that aligns with Hegseth's own past criticisms. While a host at Fox News, Hegseth publicly lamented that the Boy Scouts had lost what they stand for following a series of policy changes aimed at broader inclusion.
The push to distance the Pentagon from the organization comes as Scouting America has undergone significant transformations. In recent years, it has moved to include girls in all its programs and officially changed its name to be more welcoming. These changes followed earlier decisions to lift controversial bans on gay youth and adult leaders. Critics within the administration are reportedly citing concerns over its modern direction, including its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, as a primary reason for the proposed split.
The debate over the Pentagon’s support adds another layer of complexity to a challenging period for Scouting America. The organization is still navigating the fallout from a major financial crisis that led to its bankruptcy, which was precipitated by a wave of sexual abuse lawsuits. It recently established a compensation fund expected to reach $2.6 billion for survivors. The BSA's evolving inclusion policies have been a point of contention for years, leading to both praise from progressives and departures from more conservative chartered organizations. The potential end of the Pentagon partnership would mark a significant symbolic and logistical shift, impacting scout troops located on military bases around the world.
