For over a century, the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) stood as a pillar of American tradition, fostering leadership, resilience, and a sense of adventure in young boys. But in a stunning capitulation to political correctness, the organization has abandoned its legacy and rebranded as “Scouting America.” The decision, aimed at promoting inclusivity, has been met with widespread criticism from both cultural commentators and former supporters, who see it as yet another institution crumbling under the weight of modern ideological pressures.
Why the Name Change?
The name change, announced last year and officially implemented this month, was framed as a step toward making scouting more welcoming to all youth. According to Roger A. Krone, CEO of Scouting America, the move was part of an effort to ensure that “everyone feels welcome in scouting.”
But critics argue this is nothing more than a hollow PR stunt—an attempt to divert attention from the organization’s disastrous handling of its own scandals, including a $2.4 billion bankruptcy settlement to compensate over 80,000 victims of sexual abuse. The BSA has been bleeding members for years, plummeting from nearly 5 million in 1972 to just over 1 million today. Rather than doubling down on what once made scouting great, it has chosen to follow the trend of corporate-style rebranding in a desperate bid for survival.
Bill Maher and Other Critics Weigh In
Even liberal comedian Bill Maher, never one to shy away from calling out absurdity, took issue with the change. “The whole f****** country is an Onion headline,” Maher quipped on Real Time with Bill Maher. “The Boy Scouts of America cannot be called Boy Scouts anymore because it’s exclusionary. Like there isn’t a Girl Scouts. Like this is some crime against nature.”
Maher wasn’t alone. Ohio Democratic Congressman Tim Ryan argued that keeping the Boy Scouts separate from the Girl Scouts made sense, given that boys and girls develop differently and benefit from different approaches to leadership training. Kid Rock, never one to mince words, was even more blunt: “We lost a good portion of a few generations of men who just turned into complete f*ing p*ies.”
The Cost of Wokeness
The name change is only the latest in a long series of so-called progressive moves by the BSA. In 2013, the organization lifted its ban on openly gay scouts, followed by the admission of gay adult leaders in 2015. In 2017, it went further, allowing girls to join its ranks. By 2019, the flagship “Boy Scouts” program had been renamed “Scouts BSA” to reflect the new co-ed membership. These changes have eroded the organization’s identity, alienating long-time members while failing to attract the flood of new recruits leadership had hoped for.
Even the Girl Scouts of the USA pushed back against the BSA’s decision to admit girls, arguing that it created market confusion and hurt their ability to recruit members. The two organizations ended up in a legal battle before reaching a settlement.
A Desperate Attempt at Relevance
Despite leadership’s insistence that the name change is a positive step forward, the numbers tell a different story. While Scouting America has seen a minor membership uptick—around 16,000 new scouts, a 2% increase—it remains a shadow of its former self. The most significant gains came from Cub Scouts, while the older Scouts BSA program, once the heart of the organization, continues to decline.
And what has been gained? A handful of feel-good headlines, a modest increase in new members, and a further dilution of what once made the Boy Scouts special. Meanwhile, the broader cultural backlash against the move has been loud and swift. Social media has exploded with criticism, with many arguing that removing “Boy” from the name is yet another example of the war on traditional masculinity. Conservative commentator Tomi Lahren summed up the sentiment succinctly: “The Boy Scouts of America has a rich 114-year history that is quickly being flushed down the toilet and sacrificed at the altar of woke.”
At its core, scouting was never meant to be about appeasing cultural activists or chasing approval from corporate media. It was about teaching young boys—yes, boys—how to become strong, capable men. By abandoning its roots in favor of inclusivity optics, Scouting America has further weakened its brand and accelerated its decline. Instead of standing firm, it chose to capitulate, proving once again that when institutions go woke, they eventually go broke.
