Pentagon Cuts Military's Recognized Religions From 200 to 31

The U.S. Department of War cut its list of recognized military religious affiliations from more than 200 to 31, War Secretary Pete Hegseth announced in early June 2026.

Hegseth called the previous system "impractical and unusable," noting that the vast majority of service members identified with only six of the original codes. The new list covers major categories including Agnostics, Buddhists, Hindus, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, and several Christian denominations.

The Pentagon also directed chaplains to replace their rank insignia with religious insignia, a move intended to emphasize their primary role as faith leaders rather than military officers.

The decision drew immediate reaction from faith communities. Critics argued the change effectively erases smaller religious groups from official military recognition. Supporters said the streamlined list better reflects the actual religious makeup of the armed forces.

Chaplains serve a critical function in the military, providing spiritual care, counseling, and moral guidance to service members across all branches. The Chaplain Corps has operated since the Revolutionary War and currently includes clergy from dozens of faith traditions.

The Pentagon said the new categories were chosen based on actual enrollment data from service members. Officials did not specify which faith groups were removed from the list or how service members from unrecognized traditions would be accommodated going forward.