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Defense Secretary Hegseth’s Evangelical Push Sparks Service Complaints

4/26/2026

23 5 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s push to embed his evangelical beliefs has drawn dozens of complaints from service members.
Hegseth forced Maj. Gen. William Green Jr. into early retirement, leaving the Army chief of chaplains post vacant.
Hegseth’s “Deus Vult” tattoo—a Crusades-linked far-right slogan—coincides with surveys showing about one-quarter of the 1.2 million service members have no religious preference.

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Story summary

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s push to embed his evangelical beliefs has drawn dozens of complaints from service members.
Hegseth forced Maj. Gen. William Green Jr. into early retirement, leaving the Army chief of chaplains post vacant.
Hegseth’s “Deus Vult” tattoo—a Crusades-linked far-right slogan—coincides with surveys showing about one-quarter of the 1.2 million service members have no religious preference.