[1] On April 2, 2024, The Cadets filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, citing the costs of defending a 2020 sexual abuse lawsuit and an inability to get liability insurance coverage.

The members and staff, however, were not willing to cease the corps operations, and reorganized as a new organization, even though the parish kept the uniforms and instruments.

Also in 1971, the Garfield Cadets, along with the 27th Lancers, Boston Crusaders, Blessed Sacrament Golden Knights, and Blue Rock, formed the United Organization of Junior Corps (also known as the "Alliance").

(A similar group of Midwestern corps, the Midwest Combine, was formed by the Blue Stars, Cavaliers, Madison Scouts, Santa Clara Vanguard, and the Troopers.)

The Alliance members felt that the corps should be making their own rules, operating their own competitions and championships, and keeping the bulk of the money those shows earned.

At the first DCI World Championships in Whitewater, Wisconsin, the Cadets just missed making Finals and finished in thirteenth place in a competition that featured thirty-nine corps from the East, the South, the West Coast, the Midwest and Great Plains, and Canada.

The Scouts, however, have not competed on the field since 2015, making The Cadets the oldest continuously active junior corps briefly until becoming inactive prior to the 2024 season.

In his federal lawsuit seeking severance pay and other monies, Hopkins asserted that he resigned from the organization by letter on April 5, and that his departure was "mutually agreed"-upon.

[9] The organization also hired a Chicago labor and employment law firm, Franczek Radelet, to investigate the accusations against Hopkins as well as YEA!’s policies and procedures for providing a safe environment for youth members, employees, and volunteers.

organization was immediately put on a probationary status by DCI with the statement that multiple steps would be needed for the corps to participate in the 2018 season.

On November 13, Hopkins was indicted in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania for sexual assault, based on accusations of two women who were former employees of YEA.

for more than $650,000 in severance and back pay, the organization filed a counter-suit against the former director for $1.5 million in losses which it alleged were sustained due to the sexual misconduct scandal.

The alleged damages included lost sponsorships and pledged donations to the Cadets and YEA!, a major loss of participants in the US Bands program, as well as legal fees incurred due to the scandal.

also sponsored the recently inactive 2016 DCA Champion Cadets2 Drum Corps, 2014 WGI Independent Open Champion Cadets Winter Percussion, and Cadets Winter Guard; USBands (formerly United States Scholastic Band Association); the Urban Arts Center of the Lehigh Valley, which included the Xcape Dance Studio.

"We are now opening a new chapter in the storied history of The Cadets by creating a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity guided by the following founding principles: To educate youth from around the globe on the value of teamwork, inclusiveness, kindness, self-expression, and open communication; To create a safe and inclusive environment for all participants; and To enrich lives by teaching critical development skills required for the pursuit of personal excellence."

In 2022, The Cadets entered into a partnership with the Erie Sports Center as the new spring training site for the corps' May-June rehearsals.

The City of Erie welcomed The Cadets with open arms, offering access to local business relationships, services, volunteers, and new opportunities for funding and partnerships.

Vicki Ferrence Ray, Interim Executive Director of CAE, subsequently signed an agreement to make the Erie Sports Center The Cadets' year-round home.