Scouting Transgender Policy
Activist Sues Pentagon Over Scouting America's Transgender Policy Amid Conflicting Accounts
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A gay rights activist is suing the Pentagon over a simple but unanswered question: Did Scouting America secretly agree to ban transgender members? James Dale — the same man whose 2000 Supreme Court case let the Boy Scouts expel gay members — filed a federal lawsuit in New York on June 25, 2026, demanding the Defense Department release the full text of its deal with the scouts, according to Newsday.
The Pentagon struck a deal with Scouting America on February 27, 2026. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the group would return to using "biological sex at birth" for membership. But Scouting America CEO Roger Krone said transgender youth "are in our program and will be going forward." Both statements cannot be true at the same time — and the Pentagon has refused to release the agreement that would settle the dispute, The Independent reported.
Dale's FOIA Lawsuit Targets a Hidden Agreement
Dale filed a Freedom of Information Act request on March 24, 2026, asking for the Memorandum of Understanding — the written contract — between the Pentagon and Scouting America. The Defense Department did not respond within the legal deadline. That silence prompted Dale to file suit in New York City federal court three months later, according to WRAL.
Dale argues that both sides are telling contradictory stories. If Hegseth's version is true — that the scouts agreed to exclude transgender youth — then the government may be violating the First Amendment by forcing a private group to adopt discriminatory policies. Dale told reporters the government is trying to "command by law" what courts once ruled it could not, Goshen News reported.
Pentagon's Anti-DEI Push Put Scouts in a Tight Spot
The conflict began when Trump signed an executive order in January 2025 targeting diversity programs across the federal government. By November 2025, a leaked Pentagon memo suggested the military might cut all ties with Scouting America over what officials called "woke" policies. The threat was real: the military provides scouts with access to bases, medical support, and staffing for large events, according to ClickOnDetroit.
Hegseth set a six-month deadline — ending in late August 2026 — for Scouting America to prove full compliance with the new rules. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell called the group's leadership's views on gender "unacceptable." The stakes are high. About 20% of cadets at West Point and the Air Force Academy have a scouting background, and roughly one-third of Navy officers in training were scouts, according to KTAR.
Two Conflicting Stories, One Missing Document
Hegseth described the deal as a clear win. He said scout applications would list only "male" and "female" and must match birth certificates. But CEO Krone pushed back. He said the "two boxes" on applications have always existed and do not stop transgender youth from joining. The group's membership has already fallen from 10 million in 1970 to fewer than 1 million in 2026, according to MyNorthwest.
The unreleased MOU is the key to resolving this contradiction. Without it, neither parents, scout leaders, nor advocates know what Scouting America actually agreed to. Dale's lawsuit is designed to force that document into public view before Hegseth's August 2026 compliance deadline arrives, LMT Online reported.
What Happens If Military Support Is Pulled
The National Scout Jamboree — held every four years in West Virginia — hosts up to 20,000 youth and adult leaders. It depends on hundreds of National Guard members for medical care, security, and logistics. A withdrawal of that support by the August deadline could make future large-scale events nearly impossible to run, according to The Hour.
Local troops meeting on overseas military bases or using facilities in the United States face eviction if the scouts are found to be out of compliance. Military officials have also warned internally that cutting scout ties would hurt recruitment. Eagle Scouts often enlist at higher pay grades and stay in longer than other recruits. The outcome of Dale's lawsuit may decide whether that pipeline survives, Voice of Alexandria reported.
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