Pentagon creates Office of Religious Affairs to prioritize faith support for troops

At his second annual State of the Force address on Marine Corps Base Quantico, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth unveiled plans for a new Office of Religious Affairs within the Pentagon. The office will have a direct reporting channel to the secretary and is intended to deliver "first-class religious support" to military personnel. Hegseth stressed that cutting-edge technology and new recruitment partnerships are insufficient without incorporating the nation's faith traditions.

He faulted previous administrations for underfunding chaplaincy, allowing secular bureaucrats and legal red tape to dictate religious matters, and letting base chapels deteriorate. The initiative reflects Hegseth's personal emphasis on spiritual health as equal to physical fitness. Jewish service members have previously reported accommodation challenges, a concern the new office may address.