U.S. Secretary of War Hegseth Establishes Pentagon Office of Religious Affairs

U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has announced the creation of a new Office of Religious Affairs within the Pentagon. During his "State of the Force" address at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Hegseth stated that the office will report directly to him to ensure chaplains receive high-level advocacy. He emphasized that the initiative aims to strengthen the spiritual readiness of service members, citing Psalm 33:12 and describing the move as putting on the "full armor of God."

The new office is tasked with coordinating spiritual resources, including faith-based suicide prevention initiatives and support for military families. While Hegseth criticized previous administrations for allowing secularism to sideline chaplains, Pentagon officials stated that the office will not compel religious participation or favor specific faiths. The announcement has drawn mixed reactions, with support from some religious groups and criticism from secularist advocates who expressed concerns regarding the influence of Christian nationalism in the military. No director for the office has been named.