Story perspectives

Pentagon Cuts Chaplain Faith Codes to 31, Excludes Atheism, Paganism

6/5/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Pentagon now requires chaplains to display their faith on the uniform instead of rank.
The Defense Department is cutting 180 affiliation codes, leaving 31 faiths, which Undersecretary Anthony Tata says will aid chaplains.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the earlier list exceeded 200 codes, yet most service members used only six.
The new 31-code list keeps major Christian denominations, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism, dropping Atheism and Paganism.

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Story summary

The Pentagon now requires chaplains to display their faith on the uniform instead of rank.
The Defense Department is cutting 180 affiliation codes, leaving 31 faiths, which Undersecretary Anthony Tata says will aid chaplains.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the earlier list exceeded 200 codes, yet most service members used only six.
The new 31-code list keeps major Christian denominations, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism and Sikhism, dropping Atheism and Paganism.