Scouting America renews military focus, drops DEI badge amid Pentagon pressure

Scouting America is doubling down on its military heritage and traditional values as it moves to shed a “woke” reputation, following a formal agreement with the Department of Defense that reshaped the organization’s programs and membership policies.

The organization discontinued its “Citizenship in Society” merit badge effective Feb. 27. The badge was previously required for a scout to achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. The Eagle Scout path now requires 13 mandatory merit badges instead of 14, with scouts choosing eight elective badges instead of seven, keeping the total requirement at 21. 

A new Military Service merit badge focused on military service and veterans is being developed in cooperation with the Department of Defense, though details on its requirements have not yet been released. 

The Department of Defense said it would “conditionally” continue providing support — including personnel, equipment, installations and facilities — following Scouting America’s commitment to pull DEI initiatives from its programs. The Pentagon will conduct a review of the changes in six months and has said it will eliminate its support if Scouting America fails to comply.

As part of the agreement, Scouting America will waive registration fees for children of active-duty, Guard and Reserve military families. The organization also agreed to participate in the America250 program, which marks the nation’s semiquincentennial.

In a statement, Scouting America said it is “moving forward with implementing new programmatic elements” including the military families fee waiver and the new merit badge, and reaffirmed its commitment to “leadership, character, duty to God, duty to country and service.” 

The agreement largely reflected a plan Scouting America had itself proposed to Mr. Hegseth in January, which included discontinuing the Citizenship in Society badge, introducing a Military Service merit badge, waiving registration fees for military families and dissolving its DEI board committee. 

Mr. Krone noted the organization’s deep historical ties to the military date to its very founding. Lt. Gen. Robert Baden-Powell, a British military hero, conceived the scouting concept in the wake of the Industrial Revolution to instill merit and values in wayward children in London. 

Scouts continue wearing the American flag on their Class-A uniforms from Cub Scouts through Eagle, and troop meetings begin with the Pledge of Allegiance and the Scout Oath, which include pledges to honor God, country and law. 

Scouting received blowback in recent years for allowing girls to join and for the 2024 rebrand from Boy Scouts of America to Scouting America. Mr. Krone defended the inclusion of girls, saying the program remains a meritocracy and rank requirements are identical regardless of gender.

To earn Eagle Scout, a scout must complete at least 21 merit badges, including three “Citizenship” badges — Community, Nation and World — through which they learn civics, America’s founding principles and are required to write their congressman or senator about an issue important to them.