- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the creation of an Office of Religious Affairs at the Pentagon , establishing a direct line between military chaplains and the secretary.
- First Amendment advocates and religious freedom groups condemned the decision, warning it erodes the constitutional separation of church and state and advances a Christian nationalist agenda.
- The new office will oversee research and tools to evaluate spiritual fitness and readiness among service members while placing chaplains directly under Hegseth's authority.
- The announcement follows recent Department of Defense policy changes that narrowed the Pentagon's recognized religions list from 200 to 31, mostly Christian, traditions.
- Active-duty chaplains expressed concern over potential retaliation if their faith or ideological views do not align with Hegseth and President Donald Trump 's administration.
IN FULL
Outrage spreads over Hegseth plan for Religious Affairs office at the Pentagon
