Hegseth Says Scouting America Will Change Its DEI Policies to Maintain Military Support

The U.S. military and the Boy Scouts have had longtime ties, including the military providing logistical support for the National Boy Scout Jamboree since 1937.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington on Aug. 11, 2025. Madalina Kilroy/The Epoch Times

War Secretary Pete Hegseth said Scouting America, formerly known as the Boy Scouts, could keep working with the U.S. military if it continues to exclude diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.

Hegseth said in a video on X that the War Department would “vigorously review” the organization’s changes and would stop supporting Scouting America if it did not comply.