Pentagon pressure forces Scouting America to scrap diversity spaces at national jamboree

At the National Jamboree in West Virginia, Scouting America eliminated the tents and programs that previously catered to LGBTQ scouts, girls and scouts of color, citing pressure from the Department of Defense. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that the Pentagon would terminate its century-old logistical partnership unless the organization moved away from what he described as “woke” initiatives. About 15,000 scouts, leaders and volunteers are attending the ten-day event, which now lacks the inclusive spaces that many participants expected.

Volunteers such as Eagle Scout John Andrew Segebarth and assistant scoutmaster Layla Grace said the removal of these areas prompted them to withdraw or protest, with Grace attempting to fill the gap through other volunteer work. A lawsuit filed by James Dale, a former Boy Scout expelled for being gay, obtained a Defense Department memo detailing how the Pentagon will monitor compliance. While a Scouting America spokesperson affirmed a continued commitment to welcome all youth, no further explanation was offered regarding the specific changes.