Defense Department & Civil Society

Under pressure from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Scouting America agreed to immediate policy changes — defining membership by biological sex at birth with applications matching birth certificates, barring birth‑sex opposites from sharing bathrooms, showers or tents, dropping the Citizenship in Society (DEI) merit badge, adding a Military Service merit badge, and waiving registration fees for military families — to preserve Pentagon logistical and sponsorship support. The Pentagon will review compliance over six months and has warned it will end military backing if Scouting America fails to comply; the organization says it will keep its name and continue serving more than 200,000 girls.