Pentagon Cuts Recognized Military Faith Codes to 31 From 211 Under Hegseth

3 articles · Updated · Military.com · Jun 4

A May 20 memo signed by personnel chief Anthony Tata orders the Defense Department to shrink its religious affiliation codes to 31 within 60 days, the first official revision since 2017.
Hegseth directed the change to streamline what he called an impractical system of more than 200 codes; in March he said 82% of religious service members used just six of them.
The new list keeps major groups including Catholics, Baptists, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs and agnostics, while dropping about 180 minority faiths and worldviews such as Atheists, Wiccans, Druids, Humanists and Asatru.
Critics including former chaplains, pagan clergy and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation say the cuts could deny pastoral support, harm morale and violate First Amendment protections for free exercise of religion.
The move fits Hegseth's broader chaplaincy overhaul, which he has framed as a cultural shift elevating spiritual well-being, but opponents see as favoring Christian nationalism.