Can “Scouting America” Be Trusted?

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced last week a negotiated agreement with “Scouting America” — the organization once known as the “Boy Scouts of America.” 

In a video sharing the development, Secretary Hegseth pulled no punches in describing just how far the legendary non-profit has fallen over the years. Over the last few decades, the Boy Scouts have abandoned their Judeo-Christian roots.

“The focus on God as the ruler of the universe was watered down to include openness to humanism and earth-centered pagan religions,” said the Secretary. 

“Scouting became an organization that no longer supported and celebrated boys. They even welcomed the destructive myth of gender fluidity and transgenderism to infiltrate their membership. Along the way, standards were lowered and merit destroyed in favor of an insidious, radical, woke ideology that is anti-America and anti-American.”

According to Secretary Hegseth, the Scouts have agreed to pull back from their increasingly woke agenda. 

But is it too little, too late? 

In a video posted online, Secretary Hegseth identified five main concessions from the once storied group:

1. “Scouting America has agreed to comply immediately with the provisions of Executive Order 14173. This includes reviewing and replacing politicized, divisive, and discriminatory language throughout the organization, programs, and all publications. No more DEI. Zero. 

2. “The ‘Citizen in Society Merit Badge’ that encouraged Scouts to explore diversity, equity, inclusion, and identity … That badge has been discontinued.

3. “Scouting America will modify its policy to make clear that membership will be based solely on biological sex at birth and not gender identity. That means that the application, any application, will have only two sex designations, male and female. The application must match the applicant’s birth certificate.

The Secretary noted, “Scouting will also make clear that biological boys and girls will not be allowed to occupy or share intimate spaces together. Toilets, showers, tents, anywhere like that.”

4. “Scouting America will honor those who serve by waiving the registration fees for children of active duty, guard, and reserve families.

5. “In partnership with the War Department, Scouting America will introduce a new military service merit badge.”

As an indication of just how tenuous and fragile the agreement is, Roger Krone, Scouting America’s president and CEO, immediately pushed back over the weekend, appearing to contradict the spirit of the agreement.

“We have transgender people in our program, and we’ll have transgender people in our program, going forward,” he told the Associated Press.

Clearly anticipating the tension, Secretary Hegseth warned the agreement “is contingent on them making substantial progress toward reaching these and many other positive changes in the next six months.” 

He then added, “At that time, we’ll vigorously review progress and decide whether or not to continue our support. The onus is squarely on Scouting America to deliver. If we’re unsatisfied with Scouting America’s progress toward and commitment to the agreed upon reforms, we will find them in violation of the President’s executive order and cease our support.”

At the conclusion of his address, Secretary Hegseth highlighted both Trail Life USA and AWANA — two Christian non-profit groups that parents can trust to properly and help positively disciple their young children.

Focus on the Family enthusiastically and wholeheartedly endorses both of these fine organizations, as well as American Heritage Girls — a Christian scouting group for young women. We appreciate Secretary Hegseth’s good faith efforts with Scouting America, especially his wisdom and embracing of a “trust but verify” posture going forward.