Scout Policy Prompts Interior Dept. Review

Citing a presidential order against discrimination, the Interior Department is reviewing whether it should sever some ties with the Boy Scouts of America because of the group’s ban on gay members. The order could prevent the Boy Scouts from using some federal land and keeping Interior sponsorship in scouting activities. Interior asked the Justice Department for advice about how to deal with the Scouts in light of an executive order in June barring government involvement in education and training programs with any group that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation. That request prompted a memo in mid-August, circulated widely within the department, seeking detailed information about “all activities, events and programs” with the Boy Scouts to determine whether they conflict with the executive order.