Hegseth cuts military religious affiliation codes from over 200 to 31; American Atheists and Interfaith Alliance object
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the military's more than 200 faith codes were impractical and has cut them to 31. Interfaith Alliance and American Atheists say the change elevates one worldview and leaves out minority beliefs; American Atheists has sued for the records.
Read the full background
In a March 25 video, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the military's faith codes, which service members use to record a religious affiliation, would be cut from more than 200 to 31 and renamed religious affiliation codes. He said the old system was impractical and unusable and that most service members used only six codes. The list, set in a memo from Under Secretary of Defense Anthony Tata, was reported on June 4. It keeps Agnostic, Baha'i, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Sikhism, a set of Christian traditions, "No Religion" and "Other Religions", and no longer lists atheists, Humanists, Unitarian Universalists, pagans or Wiccans separately.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the change does not judge the legitimacy of any faith and is meant to help chaplains see the religious makeup of their units. Paul Raushenbush of Interfaith Alliance said it elevates one religious worldview, and the Unitarian Universalist Association said it may make spiritual care harder to reach for its members in uniform. After objections from Sen. Mike Lee, a revised list issued June 8 placed The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints among the Christian groups.
On October 30, American Atheists sued the Department of Defense in federal court in New Jersey under the Freedom of Information Act, seeking records on how the decision was made. The group says the department has produced no records in response to its request.
People in this case
Pete HegsethDirectly involved
Sean ParnellDirectly involved
Timeline
4 timeline entries on this page. Dates: March 25, 2026 to October 30, 2026
March 2026
Hegseth announces cut to 31 religious affiliation codes
Incident
In a video posted on social media, Hegseth says the military's faith codes will be cut from more than 200 to 31 and renamed religious affiliation codes, and that chaplains will wear religious insignia instead of rank insignia.
[01]United States Department of Defense
Department news story, republished by Joint Base San Antonio, on Secretary Pete Hegseth's March 25 video announcement. It quotes his reasons for cutting the military's faith codes to 31 and for replacing chaplains' rank insignia with religious insignia.
Pentagon News: Hegseth announces reforms to Chaplain Corps · United States Department of DefenseFull article[02]Fox News
Fox News report on Hegseth's announcement posted on X, quoting his statements on the faith codes and chaplain insignia.
June 2026
List of 31 religious affiliation codes is reported
Source release
A memo from Under Secretary of Defense Anthony Tata sets the list of 31 codes, which the memo says will streamline the collection of service members' religious preferences.
[03]FOX 9: Pentagon cuts 180 faiths from military recognition list
Report on the memo from Under Secretary of Defense Anthony Tata setting the list of 31 religious affiliation codes, quoting the memo's stated purpose.
Revised list places Latter-day Saints among Christian groups
After Sen. Mike Lee objects in a June 7 video, the department issues a revised list that includes The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints among the Christian groups.
[04]Baptist News Global: LDS Church added back to Pentagon list after outcry
Report on the June 8 revision that listed The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints among Christian groups after objections from Sen. Mike Lee. It also reports that the codes were set in a May 20 memo from Under Secretary Anthony Tata.
October 2026
American Atheists sues for records on the decision
American Atheists files a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Department of Defense in federal court in New Jersey, seeking records on how the codes were cut.
[05]American Atheists
American Atheists' announcement of its Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Department of Defense, with statements from President Nick Fish and Legal Director Geoffrey T. Blackwell.
American Atheists Sues Trump, Hegseth's Department of Defense · American AtheistsFull release[06]American Atheists Inc. v. Department of Defense, No. 1:26-cv-14126 (D.N.J. filed Oct. 30, 2026): docket
Court docket for the Freedom of Information Act suit in the District of New Jersey, showing the complaint and a corporate disclosure statement filed October 30, 2026.
American Atheists Inc. v. Department of Defense, No. 1:26-cv-14126 (D.N.J. filed Oct. 30, 2026): docketDocket entries 1 (complaint) and 2
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
The military's previous system of more than 200 faith codes was impractical and unusable, and many of the codes were never used.
What is disputed
Interfaith Alliance says the change elevates one religious worldview, and American Atheists says the smaller list will make it impossible to accurately identify service members and assess their needs.
Sources (2)
- Pentagon News: Hegseth announces reforms to Chaplain Corps · United States Department of DefenseFull article
Disputed claim
American Atheists
Reducing the religious codes will make it impossible to accurately identify service members, assess their needs and ensure they receive equal access to support services.
What is disputed
The Pentagon says the new codes give chaplains clear information about the religious makeup of their units so they can direct resources to service members of all faith groups.
Sources (1)
- American Atheists Sues Trump, Hegseth's Department of Defense · American AtheistsFull release
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
4 responses. Newest first.
American AtheistsStatement by President Nick Fish in the group's lawsuit announcementDirectly involved Before this statement
American Atheists announces a federal lawsuit to compel the Department of Defense to release records on its decision to eliminate 180 religious identification codes, including those for atheists, Humanists and Unitarian Universalists.
"Our military members swear an oath to defend the Constitution, not to promote Pete Hegseth's religious views"
CondemnedResponding to: Reducing the religious codes will make it impossible to accurately identify service members, assess their needs and ensure they receive equal access to support services.
Full statement and sources
Announcing its records lawsuit, American Atheists says service members swear an oath to defend the Constitution, not to promote Hegseth's religious views.
After the statement
Fish says the very least the Trump administration could do for the people putting their lives on the line is to respect their religious freedom rights.
American Atheists Sues Trump, Hegseth's Department of Defense · American AtheistsFull releaseWhy this label?
American Atheists condemns the reduction of the religious codes, presenting it as a promotion of Hegseth's religious views.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sean ParnellPentagon spokesperson, in a statement quoted by the Associated PressDirectly involvedBefore this statement
AP reports that the department's new list of 31 religious affiliation codes no longer includes atheists, Unitarian Universalists, pagans and Wiccans.
"This decrease in religious affiliation codes is not designed to make any claims on the legitimacy of any faith or religious belief, nor is it intended to provide a list of 'officially approved' religions"
Defended or excusedResponding to: Reducing the religious codes will make it impossible to accurately identify service members, assess their needs and ensure they receive equal access to support services.
Full statement and sources
Parnell says the reduced list of religious affiliation codes is not a judgment on any faith's legitimacy and is not a list of officially approved religions.
After the statement
Parnell says the change is designed to let chaplains quickly look at the religious composition of their units and decide how to structure resources for service members of all faith groups.
AP: Defense Department slashes its religious designations list from more than 200 choices to 31 · Associated PressFull articleWhy this label?
Parnell defends the reduction, rejecting the reading that it ranks faiths and describing it as a tool for chaplains.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Interfaith AllianceStatement by the Rev. Paul Raushenbush, head of Interfaith Alliance, quoted by the Associated PressDirectly involvedBefore this statement
AP reports that the Defense Department announced a new list of 31 religious affiliations, down from more than 200 traditions troops could previously choose from.
"Secretary Hegseth is not 'streamlining' anything. He is elevating one narrow religious worldview from the top of the chain of command"
CondemnedResponding to: The military's previous system of more than 200 faith codes was impractical and unusable, and many of the codes were never used.
Full statement and sources
Interfaith Alliance's Paul Raushenbush says the cut is not streamlining but an elevation of one religious worldview by Hegseth.
After the statement
Raushenbush says the First Amendment does not allow the government to create a hierarchy of faiths or allow the Pentagon to decide which beliefs are worthy of recognition.
AP: Defense Department slashes its religious designations list from more than 200 choices to 31 · Associated PressFull articleInterfaith Alliance: AP: Defense Department slashes its religious designations list from more than 200 choices to 31 · Interfaith AllianceFull postWhy this label?
Interfaith Alliance condemns the reduction of the codes, saying it elevates one religious worldview and conflicts with the First Amendment.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Pete HegsethSecretary of War, in a video announcement posted on social mediaDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Hegseth said the overhaul of the faith and belief coding system, to be renamed religious affiliation codes, was necessary because the system had grown too big.
"The previous system had ballooned to well over 200 faith codes. ... It was impractical and unusable, and many codes were never used at all"
Defended or excusedResponding to: The military's previous system of more than 200 faith codes was impractical and unusable, and many of the codes were never used.
Full statement and sources
Hegseth says the old system of more than 200 faith codes had grown impractical and unusable and that many codes were never used.
After the statement
He added that a significant majority of service members, 82% of whom identify as religious, use only six of the codes, and said the number would be reduced to 31.
Pentagon News: Hegseth announces reforms to Chaplain Corps · United States Department of DefenseFull articleWhy this label?
Hegseth defends cutting the military's faith codes, the decision this case examines, as a fix for a system he calls unusable.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(8)
Official statement
Pentagon News: Hegseth announces reforms to Chaplain Corps
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Department news story, republished by Joint Base San Antonio, on Secretary Pete Hegseth's March 25 video announcement. It quotes his reasons for cutting the military's faith codes to 31 and for replacing chaplains' rank insignia with religious insignia.
- Author
- Matthew Olay, Pentagon News
- Published
- Accessed
Original text
American Atheists Inc. v. Department of Defense, No. 1:26-cv-14126 (D.N.J. filed Oct. 30, 2026): docket
Relevant passage: Docket entries 1 (complaint) and 2
About this source
Court docket for the Freedom of Information Act suit in the District of New Jersey, showing the complaint and a corporate disclosure statement filed October 30, 2026.
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
American Atheists Sues Trump, Hegseth's Department of Defense
Relevant passage: Full release
About this source
American Atheists' announcement of its Freedom of Information Act lawsuit against the Department of Defense, with statements from President Nick Fish and Legal Director Geoffrey T. Blackwell.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Baptist News Global: LDS Church added back to Pentagon list after outcry
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Report on the June 8 revision that listed The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints among Christian groups after objections from Sen. Mike Lee. It also reports that the codes were set in a May 20 memo from Under Secretary Anthony Tata.
- Author
- Jeff Brumley
- Published
- Accessed
Official statement
Interfaith Alliance: AP: Defense Department slashes its religious designations list from more than 200 choices to 31
Relevant passage: Full post
About this source
Interfaith Alliance's own post of the statement by its president and CEO, Rev. Paul Brandeis Raushenbush, that AP quoted on June 5.
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
AP: Defense Department slashes its religious designations list from more than 200 choices to 31
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Associated Press report, republished by WDIV ClickOnDetroit, on the new list of 31 religious affiliation codes. It quotes Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, the Unitarian Universalist Association and Interfaith Alliance's Paul Raushenbush.
- Author
- Tiffany Stanley, Associated Press
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
FOX 9: Pentagon cuts 180 faiths from military recognition list
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Report on the memo from Under Secretary of Defense Anthony Tata setting the list of 31 religious affiliation codes, quoting the memo's stated purpose.
- Author
- Chris Williams
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Fox News: Pete Hegseth slashes military 'faith codes' from over 200 to 31 in Pentagon Chaplain Corps overhaul
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
Fox News report on Hegseth's announcement posted on X, quoting his statements on the faith codes and chaplain insignia.
- Author
- Rachel del Guidice
- Published
- Accessed
Share or embed this case
The embed keeps its attribution link to The Dispute Index. Credit the image to The Dispute Index and link to the case page.
Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Hegseth cuts military religious affiliation codes from over 200 to 31; American Atheists and Interfaith Alliance object
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/pentagon-religious-affiliation-codes-cut-31
The Dispute Index. "Hegseth cuts military religious affiliation codes from over 200 to 31; American Atheists and Interfaith Alliance object". First published: 2026-11-02. Last updated: 2026-11-02. https://disputeindex.com/cases/pentagon-religious-affiliation-codes-cut-31