Full Breakdown
Girl Scouts Respond to Reports of Mosque-Based Troops
8/27/2026, 2:21:27 AM
Girl Scouts Respond to Reports of Mosque-Based Troops
Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) issued a statement denying that the organization teaches any religion. The spokesperson emphasized that Girl Scouts is “proudly for every girl” and that faith-specific patches are created by independent faith groups, not by GSUSA, with participation described as optional. The statement was issued after a White House correspondent reported that troops operating out of mosques in California, Illinois, New York, Virginia, Maryland and other states included Quran study, Islamic prayer, Ramadan observances and hijab-related activities.
Faith-Recognition Structure Within GSUSA
GSUSA’s publicly posted materials list approved religious-recognition programs for a range of faiths, including four Islamic recognitions—Bismillah, In the Name of Allah, Quratula’in and Muslimeen. These programs are described as optional and administered by the respective faith committees rather than by the national Girl Scouts office.
Official Statements & Criticism
GSUSA’s spokesperson reiterated that the national “My Promise, My Faith” pin allows girls to connect the Girl Scout Law with their personal faith, and that any additional faith-based badges are optional and independently managed. Alexandra Bougher, New Jersey ambassador for Moms for Liberty, criticized the practice, arguing that faith-specific badges could exclude girls who do not share the required beliefs. She said that no chapter should favor one faith over another through badge incentives.
Verbatim Quote
- “No Girl Scout chapter should push one faith over another by incentivizing it with badges some girls, because of their own faith, will not be able to earn,” — Alexandra Bougher, New Jersey ambassador
