Concerns are growing that U.S. defense chief Pete Hegseth is injecting a Christian tint into the military, potentially undermining the Constitution's separation of church and state.
On the 29th (local time), the Washington Post (WP) reported that since Minister Hegseth took office, long-standing military practices upholding religious neutrality have rapidly crumbled. According to the paper, Minister Hegseth has hosted monthly evangelical services inside the Pentagon (the Ministry of National Defense headquarters) and shared on social media (SNS) phrases labeling anti-Christian forces as "enemies," continuing a public posture as a Christian believer.
For example, Minister Hegseth invited pastors from his Christian denomination to the Pentagon for the monthly services so troops could hear their sermons, and controversy flared after one preacher, known for the extreme view that women's voting rights should be revoked, was included.
In particular, as a war phase with Iran, an Islamic nation, continues, Minister Hegseth's actions have come under daily scrutiny. On the 25th, during a prayer held at the Ministry of National Defense, he said, "I hope we can unleash overwhelming violence on those who do not deserve mercy," adding, "In the great and mighty name of Jesus Christ, with bold conviction, we ask for all things."
That same day, he announced two reform plans for military chaplaincy, saying the military would drastically reduce the categories of service members' affiliated religions and replace rank insignia on chaplains' uniforms with religious emblems. As a result, the administrative code classifications indicating service members' religious identities in the ranks will be cut from more than 200 to 31, prompting criticism that minority religions could effectively be excluded and that the military's expertise and neutrality could be undermined.
Traditionally, the U.S. military has acknowledged religion's influence in wartime while guarding against any particular faith gaining excessive sway. Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, concerned that the post-9/11 counterterrorism campaign "Operation Infinite Justice" could evoke Islam's concept of "infinite justice," changed the name within a day to "Operation Enduring Freedom," and Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Mike Mullen worked to maintain the military's neutrality by minimizing displays of personal faith during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
However, as this approach has recently been shaken sharply, pushback is surfacing within the ranks. Some chaplains and officers claim that those who do not share a particular faith are being sidelined or outright excluded from decision-making. Randy Manner, a retired Army major general and former deputy commander of the National Guard, said, "I'm hearing from active-duty chaplains lately that if they don't align with the Minister's religious views, they are marginalized."
There are also warnings that these changes could erode the sense of belonging that is core to the military. A Ministry of National Defense official said, "If a particular religion is put forward to justify any act, or if people from diverse backgrounds cannot unify as one, secondary problems can arise," adding, "There is awareness of the issue, but people are staying silent for fear of repercussions."
The Ministry of National Defense maintains, however, that all religious activities are based on voluntary participation and are legally sound. Ministry of National Defense Spokesperson Kingsley Wilson said, "Prayer meetings are not mandatory, and there are no disadvantages tied to attendance," adding, "Freedom of religion is a right guaranteed by the Constitution." Minister Hegseth also argues that religious activities help boost troop morale.
Experts, however, note that in a military organization, "voluntariness" can function as pressure. Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said, "Minister Hegseth's conduct is slamming the brakes on the military's progress toward inclusivity."
Americans United, a U.S. church-state separation civic group, claimed that "Hegseth is abusing his position and taxpayer funds to impose religion," and filed a lawsuit after the Pentagon did not comply with a public-records request related to the prayer meetings.