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Why Is the Department of Defense Picking Fights With The Scouts? | Command Post

2026-02-05 News & Politics
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The Bulwark
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Description

In this edition of Command Post, Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling (Ret.) joins Ben Parker to break down the surprising clash between the Department of Defense and Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts). Secretary Hegseth is threatening to cut support for Scouting America over DEI policies and integrated troops, but is this really what the Pentagon should be focusing on? Hertling explains why the Scouts’ values like honor, service, and leadership align with military priorities, and why Hegseth’s fight seems out of touch. We also also viewer questions questions about Iranian drone threats to U.S. carriers, Canadian-American military cooperation & NORAD, and maintaining global alliances despite political turbulence. Have a question that you'd like us to consider for a future episode of Command Post? Send an email to [email protected]. Please include your name, how to say it and where you're located. Become a Bulwark Youtube Plus Member here - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCG4Hp1KbGw4e02N7FpPXDgQ/join Chapters: 00:00:00 Intro 00:00:12 DoD vs. Scouting America and the DEI fight 00:02:06 What the Pentagon spokesperson said 00:02:54 Hurtling’s Scouting background and military ties 00:05:20 Scouting’s origins and connection to the military 00:08:08 Scout Oath, values, and Trump’s jamboree speech clip 00:10:52 Inclusion, DEI, and why this matters for the force 00:13:45 Bigger priorities: national defense strategy vs. culture fights 00:15:43 Listener Q&A: Iranian drone over a carrier 00:17:19 Listener Q&A: Canada, NORAD, and fighter jets 00:22:26 Listener Q&A: Maintaining allied trust amid political tension 00:24:33 Wrap-up

Top Comments (10)

@InformantNet 2026-02-05

Please, PLEASE STOP calling Hegseth the "Secretary of War"! There is no such position. He's the Secretary of Defense.

286 32 replies
@gigiowens2403 2026-02-05

The Scouts are EVERYTHING Hegseth is NOT! He like Trump is a destroyer and a bully.

154 7 replies
@tiffanyolson3087 2026-02-05

Hegseth was never a scout, he couldn’t live up to the standards

125 3 replies
@supernoodles91 2026-02-05

He wants 'lethality' and 'warrior spirit'..... nothing says warrior spirit more than installing his own make-up room in the Pentagon right!😉😂

109 7 replies
@badluck5647 2026-02-05

*Secretary of War Crimes:* *Hates the Scouts*

106 4 replies
@Clairejart 2026-02-05

The way Hegseth is obsessed with “DEI” is truly weird, creepy and a little sad.

104 5 replies
@charlesw53 2026-02-05

As a 35+ year adult BSA leader , the greater the seperation of the organization with the Trump regime the better. The concept of respecting others and service to others as held within BSA/Scouting America is now directly opposed or contrasted with the current federal government. Scouting please hold strong to your values in this most troubled times.

100 5 replies
@JeffBilkins 2026-02-05

They scouts are a problem now? What is next? Teachers and nurses? Oh.. wait.. they hate them as well. 😮

78 3 replies
@kjmason62 2026-02-05

It was great to hear about the General's Scouting background. I was in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. I was also an Eagle Scout and worked as a summer camp (at Goshen, Virginia) for 5 summers while in high school and college. The Scout troop I was a member of was sponsored by the local VFW post. I know that Scouting was important in my earning an Army ROTC scholarship and for how I led my platoons as a young Army Lieutenant. After the disaster of that Jamboree speech, I can't imagine Scouting asking Trump to make another speech and that this may be a reason why Hegseth is picking this fight.

66 3 replies
@tamugray2650 2026-02-05

I was a Brownie and a girl scout. I am proud to have been a part of that tradition sixty years ago.

53 6 replies

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