Scouting America在国防部长Pete Hegseth的威胁下，从今年的全国童子军大会（National Jamboree）中撤销了为同性恋青年、女性和有色人种童子军设立的专用空间[1]。Hegseth曾威胁若Scouting America不放弃多元化倡议，将终止五角大楼与该组织长达一个世纪的合作关系[1]。
五角大楼与Scouting America在2月达成协议，备忘录规定五角大楼将监督合规情况，双方要进行定期接触和会议[1]。Hegseth在2月发布的视频中表示，国防部将积极审查Scouting America所做的改变，若到8月末没有合规将停止军事支持[1]。
今年的全国童子军大会在西弗吉尼亚州山区举行，为期10天，有约15,000名童子军、领导者和志愿者参加[1]。这一举措引发了部分相关人士的不满。曾在1990年代因同性恋身份被童子军开除后提起诉讼的James Dale表示："他们基本上对该组织施压，在持续压力下威胁他们"[1]。21岁的大学生、鹰级童子军及2024年全国童子军官员John Andrew Segebarth也表达了异议，称："Scouting正在否定他们告诉我他们相信的价值观"[1]。
Scouting America has eliminated dedicated spaces for LGBTQ+ youth, female, and youth of color scouts from its National Jamboree event following pressure from the Pentagon [1]. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth threatened to end the Department of Defense's century-long partnership with the organization if it did not abandon its diversity initiatives [1].
In February, the Pentagon and Scouting America reached an agreement that included a memorandum establishing Pentagon oversight of compliance, with provisions for regular contact and meetings between the two parties [1]. Hegseth released a video in February stating that the Defense Department would "actively review" changes made by Scouting America and would suspend military support if the organization failed to comply by the end of August [1].
The National Jamboree, held in a mountainous region of West Virginia, drew approximately 15,000 scouts, leaders, and volunteers for a ten-day event [1]. The decision prompted backlash from some scouts and volunteers who view the action as contradicting Scouting America's stated values of inclusion. James Dale, who was expelled from the Boy Scouts in the 1990s for being gay and subsequently filed a lawsuit, stated: "They basically pressured the organization, and under sustained pressure threatened them" [1]. John Andrew Segebarth, a 21-year-old college student, Eagle Scout, and 2024 appointee to a national scouting leadership position, expressed concern, saying: "Scouting is denying the values they told me they believe in" [1].