Pentagon Creates Office of Religious Affairs Under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth

The U.S. Department of Defense established a new Office of Religious Affairs in October 2026 under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The office will oversee religious accommodation policies, chaplaincy programs, and faith-based support services across all branches of the military.

Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army National Guard veteran, has made religious expression in the military a priority since taking office. He has spoken publicly about his Christian faith and its role in his leadership philosophy.

The new office will report directly to the Secretary of Defense. Its stated mission includes ensuring that service members can practice their faith without interference and that chaplains have the resources they need to serve troops.

Military chaplains currently serve more than 1.3 million active-duty service members. The chaplaincy corps includes clergy from more than 200 religious denominations.

Supporters of the office say it will strengthen protections for religious minorities in the military, including Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist service members. Critics argue the office could blur the line between government and religion.

The American Civil Liberties Union said it would monitor the office closely to ensure it does not favor any particular faith tradition. Several retired military officers expressed concern that the office could create bureaucratic overlap with existing chaplaincy structures.

The Pentagon did not release a budget figure for the new office. A spokesperson said staffing details would be announced in the coming weeks.