By Sam StevensonShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberThe U.S. Military could be preparing to sever ties with the Scouts, according to a leaked Pentagon memo.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wants to bring an end to the centuries-old partnership between the military and Scouting America because he believes the organization has developed a tendency to "attack boy-friendly spaces," according to documents reportedly seen by NPR.
A Department of Defense official told NPR the Pentagon would not comment on "leaked documents that we cannot authenticate and that may be predecisional." Newsweek contacted the U.S. Department of Defense for further comment via email.
...Why It Matters
The U.S. military's relationship with Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) is a long-standing association that has influenced youth leadership training and military recruitment.
The possible break stems from new policy directions within both organizations relating to inclusion, diversity, and shifting values, raising questions about the military's approach to civic engagement and youth development at a time when both national security considerations and recruitment remain top priorities.
...What To Know
Documents obtained and reviewed by NPR indicate that Hegseth is advancing plans to end all Defense Department ties with Scouting America, citing misalignment with traditional military values.
In a draft memo to Congress, not yet sent, Hegseth is reported to have criticized Scouting America for becoming "genderless" and promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, arguing that Scouting America has shifted away from a "meritocracy which holds its members accountable to meet high standards."
The Department of Defense has supported the Scouts in various ways since formalizing assistance in 1937, including providing medical and logistical aid to the National Jamboree and allowing Scouts to meet on military installations.
However, under Hegseth’s proposal, these supports—along with recruitment advantages for Eagle Scouts and the use of military resources at Scouting events—would end.
The draft documents reveal concerns about the Jamboree, which attracts up to 20,000 scouts to a remote Virginia site, suggesting that sending personnel and equipment to support it would divert resources from border operations and protecting U.S. territory at a time of international security challenges and limited budgets.
A source familiar with the Pentagon documents told NPR the memo was prepared to notify Congress but stressed it had not yet been formally delivered.
What People Are Saying
Scouting America said: "Scouting is and has always been a nonpartisan organization…Over more than a century, we’ve worked constructively with every U.S. presidential administration—Democratic and Republican—focusing on our common goal of building future leaders grounded in integrity, responsibility, and community service."
Retired Army Staff Sergeant Kenny Green, a military parent of three Scouts who has relocated many times as a result of his work, told NPR: "We went from Louisiana to Alaska. From Alaska to Germany. From Germany to Texas…At every military base, there was a Scout troop that could help ease the transition to a new home…I can't even say how vast their benefits are, especially for military families."
Criticism of the proposed cut also comes from within the Pentagon. Navy Secretary John Phelan said in a memo viewed by NPR: "Passive support to Scouting America through access to military installations and educational opportunities serves as a crucial recruiting and community engagement tool for the [Navy]…Prohibition of access could be detrimental to recruitment and accession efforts across the department."
President Donald Trump, speaking at the 2017 Jamboree, previously lauded the Scouts, saying: "The United States has no better citizens than its Boy Scouts. No better."
What Happens Next
The move could disrupt not only the Scouts’ annual Jamboree but the broader pipeline of service-minded youth entering the U.S. armed forces. Planning for next summer’s Jamboree continues, but without clarity—uncertainty hangs over whether military support and access to installations will persist or cease by directive.
The Pentagon said it is reviewing all partnerships to ensure they "align with the president's agenda and advance our mission."
Congress could weigh in, given its legislative oversight and the statutory requirements around military support for scouting events.
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