Scouting America says it’s keeping its new name and preserving its service to the 200,000 girls who participate in its programs following Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s announcement it’s altering several policies at the urging of the Pentagon. One of the policies targets transgender youths. Hegseth made the announcement Friday. Hegseth has criticized Scouting America’s historic rebrand in 2024 from the Boy Scouts and other changes he sees as part of “woke culture.” Scouting America began allowing gay youths in 2013, ended a blanket ban on gay adult leaders in 2015 and announced in 2017 it would accept transgender students. The Texas-based organization didn’t mention the policy change targeting transgender youths in a statement Friday.
