Pete Hegseth's Military Faith List Sparks Culture War Over Troop Chaplains And Unit Cohesion
New Pentagon guidance from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth overhauls the military's chaplaincy and faith accommodation policies, prioritizing evangelical Christian leadership roles and sidelining interfaith initiatives. The changes mandate that all base religious services center on "core Judeo-Christian tenets," while reducing funding for non-Christian chaplain programs and eliminating diversity faith councils. Critics say the shift threatens troop cohesion among the 30% of service members who identify as non-religious or non-Christian, while supporters argue it restores traditional values to the force. The move is already triggering legal challenges and internal dissent from military chaplains.