Pentagon Slashes Recognised Military Faiths From 211 to 31, Dropping Atheists, Pagans and Hundreds of Others

Pentagon slashes recognized faith codes from 211 to 31, excluding atheists, pagans and humanists — a move critics say threatens support for minority beliefs in the ranks. (Credit: SECWAR/WikiMedia Commons)

The US Department of Defence has dramatically reduced the number of religions it officially recognises for service members, cutting the list from 211 down to just 31 faith codes. The move, formalised through a 20 May memorandum signed by Undersecretary of Defence Anthony Tata, marks the first revision to the list since 2017 — when it was significantly expanded.

Among those excluded from the new list are atheists, pagans, humanists and New Age belief systems. The sweeping reduction has drawn sharp criticism from religious freedom advocates and former military chaplain leadership alike, raising concerns about whether troops of minority faiths will still receive adequate support.