Citizenship in Society Merit Badge 2026: Key Requirements, Counselor Tips & Fast-Track Resources

Scouting America will discontinue its controversial Citizenship in Society merit badge effective immediately, part of a sweeping agreement with the U-S Department of War that keeps the decades-long partnership between the youth organization and the Pentagon alive. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said in a social-media video that the badge—added in 2022 to promote diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) and ethical leadership—will be shelved alongside all other DEI language across handbooks, training materials and official publications. “No more DEI. Zero,” Hegseth declared, warning he had been “seriously considering” ending military support until Scouting America agreed to “key reforms.” The memo of understanding also requires the group to: • remove gender-neutral policies by listing only “male” and “female” on membership applications; • prohibit biological boys and girls from sharing tents, showers or restrooms; • waive annual registration fees for children in military families; • introduce a new Military Service merit badge, with requirements to be announced later this year. The Citizenship in Society merit badge became Eagle-required in July 2022 and was earned by more than 140,000 Scouts, according to internal advancement statistics. Its sudden removal means Life Scouts who have not yet started the badge must choose an alternate Eagle requirement immediately. Councils nationwide are rushing to clarify transition rules for boards of review scheduled during the spring court-of-honor season. In a press statement, Scouting America emphasized that “girls have been an integral part of Scouting since the 1960s” and said the organization “held firm” on its name change and co-ed programming, despite agreeing to eliminate DEI terminology. Membership has fallen from 10 million boys in 1970 to under one million co-ed participants today, a decline critics such as Hegseth blame on what they call “woke ideology,” while researchers cite broader cultural shifts and the lingering impact of bankruptcy-related abuse settlements. Advancement committees are advising units to archive completed Citizenship in Society blue cards and to download existing workbooks before they are scrubbed from the national website. Merit-badge counselors certified in DEI topics will automatically transition to the forthcoming Military Service badge once its syllabus is released. SEO keywords: Citizenship in Society Merit Badge discontinued, Scouting America DEI removal, Boy Scouts Pentagon agreement, Pete Hegseth scouting reforms, Eagle Scout requirement changes, new Military Service merit badge.