Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is launching an Office of Religious Affairs, the latest of his faith-related reforms at the Pentagon.
Some criticism of the initiative surfaced quickly.
He announced in a speech on Wednesday (September 30, 2026) that the Office will help offer “first-class religious support” and will report directly to him. “Our Department is, you might say, putting on the full armour of God, because while we wage physical war, we all know the real battle is spiritual,” he said. The Office of Religious Affairs, or ORA, will advocate for military chaplains and religious support “at the highest level of the Department”, according to a Pentagon statement. It will not “compel religious participation, favour one faith, or diminish the rights of personnel of any faith or lack thereof”.
Earlier reporting noted: US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has announced the creation of a Pentagon Office of Religious Affairs (ORA), marking the latest in a series of faith-related reforms at the Department of Defence headquarters. “Mr. Hegseth’s latest announcement violates that promise by elevating Christianity to an even higher role in shaping US military policy. Other federal agencies have had religious or faith-based offices, which were established under President George W. Bush and were continued in different forms under the Obama and Biden administrations. President Donald Trump established a White House Faith Office and had a similar effort during his first term. Shaun Casey, a religion scholar, led the State Department’s Office of Religion and Global Affairs during the Obama administration. “It was there to understand what were the political implications of lived religion in the various hot spots around the world. Mr. Stand firm. Preach truth. Minister to the flock.
Hegseth spoke directly to chaplains in his address on Wednesday (September 30, 2026) at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia.
The Pentagon “owes it to the nation’s service members to defend religious freedom,” said Rachel Laser, head of Americans United for Separation of Church, which has sued the Pentagon over its worship services. The office did not promote religion or spiritual well-being, he said. Using Christian-inflected language, he said, “Live your calling. Earlier reporting noted: “Our department is, you might say, putting on the full armour of God, because while we wage physical war, we all know the real battle is spiritual,” Hegseth said in his address at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. Earlier reporting noted: According to a Pentagon statement, the ORA will advocate for military chaplains and religious support “at the highest level of the Department.”
