“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
— Dietrich Bonhoeffer
For more than a century, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) stood as a pillar of moral clarity, leadership, and responsibility. It was an organization that trained boys to become men of character — young men who would go on to serve their families, churches, and communities with conviction and courage.
That legacy is now at risk.
Top advisers to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other military officials recently urged the Department of Defense to cut ties with Scouting America, saying the organization has “gone too woke” and they had “lost what they stand for.”
Pete Hegseth himself didn’t mince words:
“This is an institution the left didn’t control. They didn’t want to improve it. They wanted to destroy it or dilute it into something that stood for nothing… Five years ago, the Boy Scouts let in girls — which was basically the end of the Boy Scouts.”
“This is a tragedy,” he added. “Young kids won’t have the opportunity to learn these skills — but more importantly, the values. And they did it to themselves.”
Hegseth is right — and the pain in his words echoes in the hearts of countless parents, veterans, and church leaders who once trusted the Scouts to shape their sons.
The recent name change from Boy Scouts of America to Scouting America isn’t only cosmetic — it’s darkly symbolic. It marks the surrender of an institution that once knew boys and girls are different, and that boys need a space uniquely tailored to help them become men. In today’s culture, even that idea — that boys exist, and are different from girls — is too controversial to affirm.
And it goes deeper still.
Scouting America’s Citizenship in Society badge, now a requirement for Eagle Scout, is a revealing example of this drift. Rather than encouraging counselors to guide boys (and girls) toward truth and wisdom, the badge requires the adults to affirm whatever the Scout believes. Instead of guiding with wisdom, the badge directs leaders to remain silent on issues like gender identity and inclusion — not to speak from a position of truth, but to step aside and let impressionable youth “determine their own beliefs.”
This badge is not just one requirement among many — it embodies a new philosophy that redefines the role of a mentor.
The official counselor training materials even warn:
- “Do not share your experience as a subject matter expert.”
- “The counselor is not to interject their own opinions and beliefs but instead should consider the Scout’s experience and journey.”
In other words: Be quiet. Stay in your lane. Let them inform themselves.
That’s not leadership.
That’s abandonment.
Instead of equipping Scouts with timeless truths, they are affirming their self-determined undeveloped reality.
I cannot in good conscience remain silent while youth are taught that truth is subjective and biology is optional. And yet, to comply with the new badge requirements, silence is exactly what’s being asked of every Scout leader.
Leadership requires conviction, someone who steps in, speaks the truth and guides with wisdom. A coach does not merely “facilitate” while an athlete fumbles — he corrects, teaches, and pushes him toward excellence. A mentor is not meant to be silent — he is meant to shape with knowledge and discipline as he speaks truth with love and conviction.
Scouting America no longer trains courageous leaders. It trains passive facilitators.
And if boys in particular don’t receive clear, courageous guidance, the culture is more than willing to fill the void. The narrative they’re being handed today denies biological reality, rejects biblical manhood, and redefines morality.
The cost of silence is too high.
Boys need strong men who will show up, speak up, and stand firm. Men who aren’t afraid to say what’s true, even when it’s unpopular. Men who understand that truth isn’t something you make up — it’s something you receive, live and pass on.
That’s why Trail Life USA exists.
At Trail Life, we believe:
- Boys need mentors, not silence.
- Boys need adventure, not ideology.
- Boys need truth, not confusion.
We don’t tell men to sit down and be quiet. We call them to rise up and lead with courage, conviction, and clarity. In over 1,350 Troops serving 65,000 Trailmen across all 50 states, that’s exactly what’s happening: boys are finding mentors, fathers and sons are connecting, relationships are deepening, and legacies are being forged.
For over a century, the Boy Scouts trained leaders. Now, tragically, they’re training followers.
Parents, pastors, and leaders — the time for silence is over. Our sons are being led into confusion when they should be guided into truth. If Scouting America will not train boys to become godly men, then we must.
Let’s raise a generation that knows who they are — because they’ve been taught by men who know and live the Truth.
Mark Hancock is the CEO of Trail Life USA, a character, leadership, and adventure organization that is both Christ-centered and boy-focused. Trail Life USA partners with churches and parents across America as the premier national character development organization for young men, which produces generations of godly and responsible husbands, fathers, and citizens. In over 1,300 churches in all 50 states, and over 65,000 members, fathers and sons are connecting, relationships are deepening, and legacies are beginning as a new generation of godly leaders rises.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not reflect the official position of the Daily Caller News Foundation.
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