Pentagon presses Scouting America to roll back reforms to win military backing
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Scouting America will alter several policies to preserve U.S. military backing, including discontinuing the Citizenship in Society merit badge, creating a Military Service merit badge, and waiving registration fees for children of military personnel. The Pentagon will rigorously review the changes over six months and could end its support if Scouting America does not comply. The move follows ongoing criticism of Scouting America’s DEI and gender policies, a trajectory that has included opening membership to girls and transgender youths since its 2013–2019 reforms.