Pentagon In Trouble For Removing Religion
Pentagon Revises Religious Policy After Pushback From Mormon Lawmakers
The Pentagon has revised a newly announced religious designation policy after strong objections from several Republican lawmakers over how members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) were categorized.
The controversy began after the Defense Department rolled out a streamlined list of faith codes that service members can select in military personnel records. The updated system, championed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, reduced hundreds of religious classifications to just a few dozen in an effort to simplify recordkeeping and chaplain support services.
However, lawmakers from Utah and other supporters of the LDS faith quickly raised concerns when the initial list did not place the church under the broader Christian category.
Lawmakers Call Policy Offensive
Sen. Mike Lee was among the most vocal critics, arguing the classification unfairly singled out his faith and inserted the government into religious disputes.
Lee said the decision was offensive not only to members of the LDS Church but also to military personnel who identify as Christian and belong to the denomination. He urged Pentagon leaders to reverse the policy and remove what he viewed as an unnecessary distinction.
Other Republican lawmakers echoed similar concerns, arguing that the federal government should not define religious identity in a way that conflicts with how a faith views itself.
Pentagon Defends Original Goal
Pentagon officials said the overhaul was intended to improve efficiency rather than make theological judgments.
Defense Department spokesperson Sean Parnell said the revised faith code system was designed to help military chaplains better understand the religious makeup of their units and allocate resources more effectively.
Officials stressed that the changes were never intended to determine the legitimacy of any religion or religious belief.
Quick Reversal Follows Criticism
Following the backlash, the Pentagon quickly revised the policy.
The updated version now includes LDS as its own faith code while removing language that grouped certain denominations under broader Christian labels. Officials said the earlier version contained unnecessary classifications and that the issue had been corrected.
In a statement, the Pentagon emphasized that its role is to support religious freedom within the armed forces rather than weigh in on doctrinal questions.
Utah Republicans Welcome Change
Rep. Mike Kennedy and Sen. John Curtis both argued that members of the LDS Church consider themselves followers of Jesus Christ and should be represented accordingly.
Curtis noted that many LDS members serve in the military and have a long history of public service, while Kennedy said the faith should be described in a way that aligns with its own teachings.
New Faith Code System Takes Effect
Under the revised policy, service members can identify with faith groups including LDS, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu, Baha’i, Christian denominations, or agnostic affiliations.
The Pentagon says the streamlined system is intended to improve support for military personnel while ensuring religious beliefs are respected throughout the ranks.
After discussions with administration officials, Lee indicated he was satisfied that changes were being made and suggested the issue was moving toward a resolution.
