DALLAS – Scouting America’s National Jamboree, a major gathering for the organization, has eliminated dedicated spaces for gay youth, women, and scouts of color. This decision follows significant pressure from the Pentagon, which has targeted Scouting America over what Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth describes as “woke” policies.
Secretary Hegseth had previously threatened to terminate the Pentagon’s century-old partnership with Scouting America if the organization did not shift its focus away from diversity initiatives. In February, Hegseth posted a video indicating his department would “vigorously review” changes made by Scouting America and would cease military support if compliance was not met by late August. He also testified on Capitol Hill on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, regarding the matter.
The organization, which rebranded in 2024 from Boy Scouts of America to emphasize inclusion and the growing number of girls in its ranks, has seen some scouts withdraw from the current 10-day event in West Virginia due to the scrapped inclusion initiatives. These initiatives were previously celebrated at national events and included community spaces for girls, scouts of color, LGBTQ+ scouts, and persons with disabilities, according to assistant scoutmaster Samuel J. Aronson.
Aronson, who had organized inclusive events at past national gatherings, decided not to attend this year’s jamboree. He expressed concern, stating, “Scouting fundamentally is a safe place for young people to have fun. In the absence of these spaces, we’re denying all that, both the safety and the fun, to thousands of young people.” John Andrew Segebarth, a 21-year-old college student and Eagle Scout who is gay and was elected a national officer in 2024, also chose not to attend. He had looked forward to staffing the space for LGBTQ+ and Allied Scouts and felt disheartened, remarking, “Scouting’s kind of walking back on its values that they told me they believed in.”
Layla Grace, a 21-year-old assistant scoutmaster who is a transgender female, found her first opportunity to speak openly about her identity at a community tent during a previous national event. She too had planned to staff the LGBTQ+ and Allied Scouts space this year. Despite the cancellations, Grace decided to attend the jamboree to support others, volunteering in an area focused on mental health, food security, and education. She is actively trying to fill the void left by the removed spaces, noting, “I am wearing so many rainbows on me, my right hand has my nails painted in the lesbian flag and my left hand has my nails painted in the transgender flag. I am being as loud as I can to do my best to hopefully make up for the lack of community spaces.”
Approximately 15,000 scouts, leaders, and volunteers from across the country are attending the jamboree, which concludes Friday. The event offers activities such as mountain biking and kayaking, alongside leadership programs and educational sessions. The military has historically maintained close ties with the scouts, providing logistical support for the jamboree and allowing some scout troops to meet on or near bases.
A six-page document outlining the Pentagon’s monitoring of compliance, including “periodic touchpoints and meet” as needed, was obtained by James Dale. Dale, who was expelled from the Boy Scouts in the early 1990s for being gay and later sued over discrimination, likened the Pentagon’s tactics to bullying. “They basically have their thumb on the organization, threatening them under constant pressure,” Dale said. A spokesperson for Scouting America affirmed the organization remains “fully committed to welcoming and serving all youth” but did not respond to inquiries about the specific changes made to the jamboree.
