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Defense Secretary Slashes DoD Faith Labels, Sparks Religious Backlash

6/10/2026

Summary

Story summary

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cut DoD religious designations from 211 to 31, announcing the change at a D-Day ceremony in France and applying it to service members.
Senator Mike Lee and Senator John Curtis criticized the plan, saying Latter-day Saints were excluded from the “Christian” label.
Critics said the revision furthers Christian nationalist aims to marginalize atheists, Muslims, Jews and other minorities, warning it could later marginalize other Christian denominations.

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Story summary

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth cut DoD religious designations from 211 to 31, announcing the change at a D-Day ceremony in France and applying it to service members.
Senator Mike Lee and Senator John Curtis criticized the plan, saying Latter-day Saints were excluded from the “Christian” label.
Critics said the revision furthers Christian nationalist aims to marginalize atheists, Muslims, Jews and other minorities, warning it could later marginalize other Christian denominations.