Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday the establishment of a Pentagon Office of Religious Affairs, reporting directly to him. This initiative marks the latest in a series of faith-related reforms implemented during his tenure.
The office will focus on offering "first-class religious support" and advocating for military chaplains and spiritual care at the highest levels of the Department of Defense. According to a Pentagon statement, the office is designed not to compel religious participation, favor any single faith, or infringe upon the rights of personnel with no religious affiliation.
Hegseth, an evangelical Christian, has previously integrated his faith into his leadership at the Pentagon. He has hosted Christian worship services for employees and frequently spoken of the United States as a Christian nation. The new office's director has not yet been named, but a Pentagon memo indicated the role would involve coordinating spiritual resources, including "faith-based homeschool support for military families."
This development has drawn criticism. Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, stated that Hegseth's announcement "violates that promise by elevating Christianity to an even higher role in shaping U.S. military policy." The organization has previously sued the Pentagon over its worship services.
Similar faith-based offices have existed in other federal agencies, established under President George W. Bush and continued in various forms under subsequent administrations. President Donald Trump also created a White House Faith Office during his term.
Shaun Casey, a religion scholar who led the State Department’s Office of Religion and Global Affairs under the Obama administration, noted that his office's purpose was to understand the political implications of religion globally, rather than promote spiritual well-being.
The Pentagon memo also mentioned the office's role in "faith-based initiatives supporting Department-wide suicide reduction." The military has increasingly relied on chaplains to address rising numbers of troops experiencing mental health distress. Hegseth has previously expressed a desire for chaplains to concentrate more on religious ministry and less on therapeutic interventions.
In addition to the new office, Hegseth has overseen other changes within the chaplain corps. He ordered chaplains to no longer wear their rank on their uniforms but instead display religious insignia. The Defense Department also significantly reduced the number of officially recognized religious affiliations from over 200 to 31, a list that no longer includes atheists, Unitarian Universalists, pagans, and Wiccans.
During an address Wednesday at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, Hegseth urged chaplains to "Live your calling. Stand firm. Preach truth. Minister to the flock," quoting from the Bible: "The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do unto me?"