Defense Secretary Hegseth Announces New Office of Religious Affairs Amid Controversial Policies
Select a version of the text written from a presumed ideological perspective. This is not the original text, but a hypothetical version — how someone with that viewpoint might have phrased it. Tapping the current version again will return to the original or select cleaned version.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth created an Office of Religious Affairs and revised Pentagon religious classifications, prompting criticism over potential bias toward evangelical Christianity.
The Department of Defense announced the establishment of an Office of Religious Affairs intended to address "moral, ethical and spiritual readiness" of service members. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the office will fund research and tools to assess "spiritual fitness," and he described the initiative as putting "the full armor of God" on the department.
The new office will be overseen by the secretary and follows recent changes that reduced the list of recognized religious affiliations from more than 200 to 31, with 22 identified as Christian. Critics say the narrowed list could limit options for non-Christian service members.
In a speech at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Hegseth listed characteristics he wants to eliminate from the force, including references to body type, facial hair, and what he termed "weirdos" and "wimps." The remarks have been interpreted by some observers as targeting groups such as women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people of color.
Senator Raphael Warnock, an ordained minister, responded in a video, stating that Hegseth was "twisting the scriptures" and that the biblical call cited by the secretary does not endorse military action.
The policy changes come amid a broader effort by the defense department to cut senior leadership positions and to revise promotion practices, actions that have drawn scrutiny from civil-rights groups and lawmakers.