Pentagon and Hegseth take into account sustaining ties to Scouting : NPR

[ad_1] An Eagle Scout Award is seen pinned to a uniform. The Pentagon, which has thought-about chopping ties to Scouting America, is transferring towards sustaining the connection. David Ryder/Getty Pictures conceal caption

toggle caption

David Ryder/Getty Pictures An Eagle Scout Award is seen pinned to a uniform. The Pentagon, which has thought-about chopping ties to Scouting America, is transferring towards sustaining the connection.

David Ryder/Getty Pictures After months of backlash, together with from some Republicans, Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth appears to be easing off his effort to sever the Pentagon's century-long relationship with Scouting America, the youth group previously often called the Boy Scouts.

Paperwork reviewed by NPR final fall detailed Hegseth's intention to chop the Scouts off for abandoning what one memo known as "masculine virtues" and for attacking "boy-friendly areas." The proposal would have barred Scout troops from assembly on U.S. bases, ended navy help for the Scout Jamboree and eradicated a long-standing coverage of providing superior rank to Eagle Scouts who enlist.

About 25,000 youngsters of U.S. service members are presently concerned in Scouting America packages, in accordance with the group.

A brand new doc not too long ago obtained by NPR exhibits contingency plans to withdraw assist are nonetheless being developed. However in accordance with a Division of DefenseSsource who requested to not be recognized for worry of retribution, extra effort is now going into negotiating a memorandum of understanding that can enable the partnership to proceed.

Based on the DOD supply, Pentagon calls for embrace requiring new Scouts to register below the intercourse assigned at start. The present Scouting software type permits solely "male" or "feminine" gender decisions, and most troops are single gender. Nonetheless, their official coverage says all youth are welcome, no matter "gender or orientation."

Whether or not this concession would fulfill Hegseth — and the way it will have an effect on transgender youth — stays unclear. The Pentagon did not reply to a request for touch upon the difficulty. A spokesman for Scouting America declined to remark.

Hegseth has been a vocal critic of Scouting's 2019 determination to confess women and later to rebrand as Scouting America. As a Fox Information host, he mentioned the Boy Scouts had been "cratering itself for fairly a while," arguing that Scouting was diluted by progressive politics. An inner Pentagon memo reviewed by NPR acknowledged: "The group as soon as endorsed by President Theodore Roosevelt now not helps the way forward for American boys."

When NPR reported on the memo final 12 months, the Protection Division declined to remark, saying that they might not authenticate the paperwork and that they might have been "pre-decisional."

Rep. Don Bacon, a Nebraska Republican on the Armed Companies Committee, mentioned he confirmed NPR's reporting with the Pentagon, nevertheless. He mentioned he'd been listening to from offended constituents.

"Some big-time Trump supporters in Omaha known as me, enraged that Hegseth could be choosing a struggle with the Scouts," Bacon mentioned. "He is received greater fish to fry. I've heard quite a lot of dumb stuff, however that is up there."

Rep. Adam Smith of Washington state, the highest Democrat on the Home Armed Companies Committee, criticized the Pentagon's place and mentioned he believes it is inappropriate for the DOD to press a youth group this fashion.

"The only largest drawback is that Hegseth is hell-bent on driving ahead a right-wing cultural revolution that may be very divisive," Smith mentioned.

Failure to achieve a deal would have main ramifications for this summer time's Nationwide Scout Jamboree. The campout attracts as many as 20,000 youths and grownup leaders to a distant website in West Virginia each 4 years — and requires intensive planning. Based on letters between Scouting and the DOD within the paperwork reviewed by NPR, help for this summer time's gathering was first requested in late 2023. If the Pentagon withdraws assist, the Scouts must scramble to exchange medical care, transportation and different emergency companies.