Bulwark Takes – Command Post: Hegseth Threatens to Cut Scouts’ Funding Over “Woke” Policies

Date: February 5, 2026
Host: Ben Parker
Guest: Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mark Hertling

Episode Overview

This Command Post episode dives into the controversy over Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s threat to cut Department of Defense (DoD) support for Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) due to their “woke” Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies. Hosts Ben Parker and Mark Hertling (retired US Army Lieutenant General and Eagle Scout) explore the military’s historical relationship with Scouting, the current culture war tensions, and broader implications for the military and its allies. The second half addresses listener questions about US and allied military cooperation.

Key Discussion Points

1. Setting the Stage: DoD vs. Scouting America

• Context: DoD is threatening to cut support for the National Jamboree, citing Scouting America’s inclusion and DEI policies.
• Actors Involved: Secretary Pete Hegseth and spokesperson Sean Parnell are spearheading this action, aligning with Trump administration policies.
• Quote (Sean Parnell, via Mark Hertling):

  “No more DEI at DOW. … Scouting America’s leadership has made decisions that run counter to the values of this administration and the Department of War, including an embrace of DEI and other social justice and gender fluid ideological stances.” (03:37)

2. Mark Hertling’s Scouting Background and the Military Connection

• Hertling recounts his own deep roots in Scouting, reaching Eagle Scout, serving as a camp counselor, and leading West Point’s Scout Masters Council.

• Quote (Mark Hertling):

  “I'm proud to say that as a boy and a young man, I participated in both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts for many years… being an Eagle Scout and some of my other Scouting accomplishments helped me get into West Point.” (04:36)

• Soft Pipeline: Scouting is viewed as a pathway for youth to acquire skills and values prized by the military—leadership, citizenship, outdoor proficiency.

3. Scouting’s History and Evolution — Roots of the Conflict

• Founding: Lord Baden Powell, British Army officer, created Scouts to build self-reliance, character, and skills relevant for national service (06:54).

• Inclusivity Shift: In 2025, Scouting America began forming “family troops” including both boys and girls, and greater accommodation for gender-nonbinary youth. This appears to have triggered the DoD’s ire.

• Quote (Mark Hertling):

  “It was as recently as last year that some of what are now called family troops, because they're both boys and girls, started to appear. And I think this is what may have incurred the wrath of our Secretary of War.” (08:58)

4. Scouting Values vs. DoD’s Criticism

• Hertling recites the Scout Oath, emphasizing values like honor, duty, service, and moral character.
• Quote (Mark Hertling):

  “The oath of Scouting… emphasizes honor and personal responsibility, service to others, citizenship, moral character, and physical, mental, and ethical development. What in God's name could the Secretary of Defense find wrong with any of those qualities?” (09:42)

5. The “Trump Era” and Culture War Shifts

• The hosts revisit Donald Trump’s 2017 speech at the National Jamboree, pointing out Trump’s factual errors and tendency to politicize youth spaces (10:47).
• Quote (Ben Parker):

  “He gave the speech not long after he had won the Electoral College while losing the popular vote because Republicans had an advantage in the Electoral College. He said it exactly backwards… which is just proof of why it’s so important to learn to read a map.” (11:50)

6. DEI and Military Effectiveness

• Hertling connects DEI research to better organizational outcomes both in business and the military, emphasizing that diversity, equity, and inclusion have been foundational to US military strength.

• Quote (Mark Hertling):

  “DEI is one of the contributors to better organizations, number one. And what I'll tell you—four decades in the military, that was our major requirement to build diversity in the force, to make many people come together… to make them into one.” (12:58)

• Gender integration in Scouting reflects today’s military reality (with ~20% women), underscoring how inclusion is not just “wokeness” but practical and valuable.

7. Why Is the Defense Secretary Focusing on This?

• Critique that Secretary Hegseth is neglecting major security priorities (e.g., China, Venezuela, national defense strategy) in favor of cultural skirmishes over “wokeness.”
• The hosts express confusion over prioritization and call for focus on more pressing strategic issues.
• Quote (Mark Hertling):

  “We're really concerned today about the expanding threats to our security—the state of the military force today… And yet we're picking a fight with the Boy Scouts. I just don’t get that.” (14:43)

Listener Q&A: International Military Relations

8. Iranian Drone Incident ([17:42])

• Question: Is the US shooting down an Iranian drone over an aircraft carrier a big deal?
• Hertling’s Answer: It’s serious but happens frequently. The Navy is trained for this, and such incidents are routine amidst ongoing tensions.

9. Canada-US Military Cooperation and Equipment ([18:49])

• Question: How close is Canadian-American military integration, and what if Canada shifts its fighter aircraft purchase from US-made F-35s to Swedish Gripens?

• Hertling’s Response: Military ties are strong and built on decades of trust and integrated operations (e.g., NORAD). Even if political relations cool or acquisition choices shift, deep connections remain. However, shifting away from US equipment signals growing doubts about American reliability.

• Quote (Mark Hertling):

  “You can't have a mixed force of different types of aircraft for a relatively small air force… But it is… an indicator of what the European forces… are doing in terms of breaking away from the US acquisition and defense industry.” (21:19)

10. Maintaining Allied Trust Amid Political Volatility ([24:25])

• Question from Denmark: How do US military leaders maintain strong professional ties with allies when US policy appears inconsistent?

• Hertling’s Perspective: Professional relationships remain robust through ongoing training, exercises, and shared professional ethos. However, “trust is built over time” and is at risk if US forces are withdrawn or alliances neglected.

• Quote (Mark Hertling):

  “You may deploy equipment, you may deploy soldiers, but you don’t deploy trust. That’s built over time, over a lot of dinners together, over exercises.” (25:36)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Ben Parker on the Scouts’ Oath vs. DoD criticism:

  “What in God's name could the Secretary of Defense find wrong with any of those qualities?” (09:42)

• Mark Hertling critiquing the focus on “wokeness”:

  “It seems ridiculous that we should say our military shouldn’t desire that diversity within our force and equity among our serving members.” (13:52)

• Ben Parker on priorities of Secretary Hegseth:

  “Instead of dealing with things like what are we going to do about China… he’s worried about, like, are the chaplains in the military going woke? And he’s worried about the Scouts.” (15:15)

• Mark Hertling, on building alliances:

  “You may deploy equipment, you may deploy soldiers, but you don’t deploy trust. That’s built over time, over a lot of dinners together, over exercises.” (25:36)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction & Issue Overview – [01:29–02:52]
• Sean Parnell’s Statement & Reaction – [03:37–04:23]
• Hertling’s Scouting Background – [04:36–06:26]
• Scouting History & Gender Integration – [06:54–09:22]
• Scout Values vs. DoD’s Issue – [09:42–10:26]
• Trump Speech & Fact-Checking – [10:39–12:21]
• DEI & Military Effectiveness – [12:58–15:15]
• Critique of Leadership Priorities – [15:15–16:30]
• Listener Q&A Start – [17:12]
  • Iranian Drone – [17:42–18:49]
  • Canada-US Cooperation & Fighter Jets – [18:49–23:30]
  • Danish Listener on Allied Trust – [24:25–25:57]

Tone and Style

Conversational and informed, with a mixture of military expertise, dry humor, and pointed criticism of current leadership priorities. Hertling frequently draws on personal experience, while Parker asks probing questions and injects factual clarifications and wry observations.

Summary

This episode exposes a culture war clash as Trump-era DoD leaders threaten Scouting America for being “woke,” notably for their inclusion policies. Hertling robustly defends the values of Scouting and the necessity of diversity and inclusion for military effectiveness, urging attention to true strategic priorities. The Q&A session reinforces the enduring professional bonds among military allies and highlights the anxiety caused by America’s political unpredictability.