DoD cuts – A Department of Defense memo signed by Anthony Tata orders a sharp reduction in the number of recognized religions and related affiliation codes for U.S. service members—dropping the list from more than 200 to 31. The change, directed by Defense Secretary Pete
For troops and civilians filling out religious preference information. the change arrives quietly—inside a memo and. soon. inside the codes that help the Department of Defense match people with chaplains and faith resources. This week. the Pentagon moved to cut the number of recognized religions. faiths. and belief systems from more than 200 down to 31.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. speaking separately about other national security priorities. has described the United States as “postured and prepared” to reengage in its war against Iran if a deal cannot be reached. But the same Pentagon leadership is also reshaping domestic military life through religion policy: the DoD memo was signed by Anthony Tata. under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness of the United States. and shared with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.
Tata’s memo says the reduction is carried out at Hegseth’s direction to “streamline the DoW collection of religious preferences collection for service members to enhance the delivery of targeted religious support from the Chaplaincy.” The Department of Defense did not respond to a request for comment.
Mikey Weinstein. founder and president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation and a retired Air Force officer. called the cut “an absolute. clear. filthy and disgusting. unconstitutional. immoral and unethical attempt to force only the approved solution. ” adding that it pushes “getting closer and closer to Christian nationalism.” He said his organization is “very seriously considering” filing a federal class action suit on behalf of members of the U.S. military and civilians affected by the Department of Defense’s move.
The reduction is not just symbolic. It is designed to shrink the number of religious affiliation codes used in part to connect service members with necessary faith resources. Many faiths that previously had codes would lose them under the new list.
The memo’s list of 31 recognized religions and belief systems includes:
Agnostic (AN)
Baha’i faith (BH)
Buddhism (BU)
Christian – Assemblies of God (AG)
Christian – Baptist (BA)
Christian – Brethren (BR)
Christian – Catholic (CA)
Christian – Church of Christ (CC)
Christian – Church of God (CG)
Christian – Church of the Nazarene (CN)
Christian – Episcopal/Anglican (EA)
Christian – Evangelical (EV)
Christian – Jehovah’s Witnesses (JW)
Christian – Lutheran (LU)
Christian – Methodist (ME)
Christian – Non-Denominational (ND)
Christian – Orthodox (OX)
Christian – Other (CO)
Christian – Pentecostal (PE)
Christian – Presbyterian (PR)
Christian – Quaker (QU)
Christian – Reformed (RE)
Christian – Scientist (SC)
Christian – Seventh Day Adventist (SA)
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (CJ)
Hindu (HI)
Islam (Muslim) (IS)
Judaism (Jewish) (JU)
No Religion (NR)
Other Religions (OR)
Sikh (SI).
Some groups listed as dropped include Atheists, Deists, Druids, Humanists, Magick, New Age churches, Pagan, Shaman, Spiritualists, and Unitarian Universalists.
The Pentagon’s shift also lands in a politically charged timeline. The move comes in opposition to steps taken during President Donald Trump’s first administration. In a 2017 memo shared with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. the Armed Forces Chaplains Board endorsed a faith and belief code expansion to “standardize and better identify religious preferences recognized by the military services.” The board said expanding codes would accurately track more faith and belief systems. “providing more accurate demographic data for religious groups. ” and help better plan religious support to the armed forces.
Since taking office, Pete Hegseth has pushed additional changes to the chaplaincy corps. In March, Hegseth announced two major changes; one ordered that chaplains would no longer wear their rank insignia. Instead, they were ordered to display their religious insignia while retaining their rank as officers. Hegseth said the move was so military chaplains could “be seen among the highest ranks because of their divine calling. ” and added that the Pentagon is “not even close to being done” with steps toward “restoring the esteemed position of chaplain.”.
In April, Hegseth also ousted Maj. Gen. William Green Jr., the Army’s chief of chaplains. Green had become an Army chaplain in 1994 after being endorsed by the National Baptist Convention. USA. Inc. described as the oldest and largest Black Baptist denomination in the country. The denomination emphasizes African Americans’ dignity and liberation. Ronit Stahl. a University of California. Berkeley professor and author of the book “Enlisting Faith: How the Military Chaplaincy Shaped Religion and State in Modern America. ” previously said Green’s firing.
The Rev. Boise Kimber, president of the denomination, said Green’s firing “raises serious and troubling questions that deserve transparency and accountability.”
A new list of 31 recognized religions was first reported by Military.com on Thursday, June 4. Now. with the DoD memo shifting the religious affiliation framework dramatically. the immediate question for service members is practical: how many people will be able to match their beliefs to the narrowed set of options—and what happens to those who no longer see their faith clearly represented in the codes meant to help chaplains deliver targeted support.
Department of Defense DoD memo religious affiliation codes Military Religious Freedom Foundation Mikey Weinstein Anthony Tata Pete Hegseth military chaplaincy First Amendment class action