U.S. Representative Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), Ranking Member of the Military and Foreign Affairs Oversight Subcommittee, has led a bipartisan group of lawmakers in requesting clarification from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding reports that the Pentagon may end its partnership with Scouting America.
The group expressed their concerns in a letter to Secretary Hegseth, stating: “We write with significant concern over reports that the military could move to cut ties with Scouting America, withdraw support from the National Jamboree, and prohibit Scout troops to meet at military bases. We urge you to maintain the robust relationship between Scouting and the military and immediately cease consideration of any plan that would sever the strong bond between these organizations.”
Reports emerged before Thanksgiving indicating that the Department of Defense is considering ending its long-standing relationship with Scouting America. The partnership has lasted for more than 100 years and includes programs such as allowing Scout units on military bases, which many military families depend on during frequent relocations. If the partnership ends, benefits like the automatic rank advancement for Eagle Scouts—from E-1 to E-3—could be discontinued. Currently, about 20 percent of West Point cadets are Eagle Scouts.
The letter also highlights concerns that cutting off access for Scout troops on bases would affect youth development opportunities for military families and weaken leadership pipelines within the armed forces.
According to members of Congress who signed the letter—including Greg Landsman (D-OH), Steven Horsford (D-NV), John Larson (D-CT), James Walkinshaw (D-VA), Ed Case (D-HI), Don Bacon (R-NE), Joe Courtney (D-CT), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Eric Sorensen (D-IL), Scott Peters (D-CA), Andrea Salinas (D-OR), Emily Randall (D-WA), John Mannion (D-NY), Maggie Goodlander (D-NH), and Kelly Morrison (D-MN)—the proposal has generated widespread concern among military families, youth advocates, and officials.
In their message to Secretary Hegseth, they wrote: “Such a drastic policy change will also have real impacts on real people. Military families rely heavily on Scout units on bases for stability during frequent relocations. Loss of base access for Scouting troops could cut off youth development programs for these families. Additionally, the long-standing automatic rank increase for Eagle Scouts, from E-1 to E-3, would likely be eliminated if the partnership ends, further weakening the leadership pipeline.”
They added: “This proposal has been met with significant concerns among military families, youth program advocates, and military officials, concerns that we share. Scouting is a nonpartisan organization with a long history of collaboration with presidential administrations on both sides of the aisle, and it would be extremely detrimental to our national security and thousands of young Americans to cut off this partnership.”
The lawmakers concluded by urging Secretary Hegseth to reconsider any plans to end cooperation between Scouting America and the Department of Defense.
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