Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has announced sweeping reforms aimed at restoring religious liberty and strengthening the role of faith in America’s armed forces, marking what supporters describe as a long-overdue correction after years of ideological hostility toward religion in the military.
According to the announcement, Hegseth is executing a “top-down cultural shift” that places spiritual well-being on equal footing with physical and mental health. Central to this effort is the restoration of the military chaplaincy to its full strength and influence.
The move was praised by the Religious Liberty Commission, whose chairman, Dan Patrick, applauded the Department of War’s rapid action.
“The chaplaincy is foundational to the American military,” Patrick said, noting that chaplains have historically provided spiritual strength that enables servicemembers to stand firm “as a force for good in the face of evil and oppression.”
He warned that past administrations deliberately undermined the chaplaincy’s spiritual and strategic role, reducing its influence at a time when the nation’s warriors needed it most.
Patrick said the Commission’s recent hearing revealed just how aggressively religion has been targeted within the military. Testimony was heard from active and former military chaplains, as well as former Navy SEAL Blake Martin, military supplier Kenny Vaughan and historian David Barton. Witnesses described systemic efforts to marginalize faith, restrict religious expression and transform chaplaincy into what critics called little more than “feelings management.”
Patrick credited Donald Trump with directing the Commission to investigate where religion has been attacked across American institutions, including the armed forces. He praised both Trump and Hegseth for providing decisive leadership to reverse those trends.
Additional support came from Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward, who addressed the Commission on religious liberty in the military. Woodward emphasized that servicemembers face life-and-death decisions daily and require more than psychological coping mechanisms.
“To manage constant pressure and danger, they must have the ability to see their work through an eternal perspective,” Woodward said.
He pointed to the Chaplain Corps — established by General George Washington — as a historic pillar of moral and spiritual formation within the ranks.
Woodward criticized previous administrations for attempting to hollow out the chaplaincy’s mission, replacing authentic faith with vague, secularized programs. He said Hegseth’s reforms will restore the Chaplain Corps and the Army Spiritual Fitness program to their intended purpose.
Conservatives say the reforms represent a clear break from years of politicization and hostility toward religious belief in uniform. Supporters argue that restoring faith and religious liberty in the military will not only protect constitutional rights but also strengthen morale, discipline and moral clarity among America’s servicemembers.
As Patrick put it, the changes are “much-needed reforms” that will help ensure America — and its military — remain strong, principled and prepared.
