US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announces new Pentagon Office of Religious Affairs
UKPulse News Desk
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced the creation of a new Office of Religious Affairs at the Pentagon, which will report directly to him.
- US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced the establishment of a new Office of Religious Affairs at the Pentagon.
- The new office will report directly to Defense Secretary Hegseth.
- Americans United for Separation of Church and State has expressed concern, stating Hegseth is advancing a Christian Nationalist agenda in the military.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced the creation of a new Office of Religious Affairs at the Pentagon. The new office will report directly to him, with Hegseth stating the military was putting on “the full armor of God”.
The Pentagon maintains that the office will not “compel religious participation”. However, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which has previously sued the Pentagon over its worship services, expressed concern. The group stated that Hegseth's actions, combined with this announcement, indicate he is advancing a Christian Nationalist agenda within the military.
Hegseth, a former Fox News personality, has previously framed the war on Iran as a modern crusade and instituted monthly prayer services at the Pentagon. He joined an evangelical church in 2018.
Why this matters: The establishment of the Office of Religious Affairs and the stated concerns from Americans United for Separation of Church and State highlight ongoing debates regarding the separation of church and state within the US military.