Hegseth announces ‘Office of Religious Affairs’ in speech on Pentagon policy

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced the creation of an Office of Religious Affairs during a Sept. 30 speech at U.S. Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. Hegseth stated the new office will provide chaplains with an advocate at high levels of leadership to ensure policy and resources support military missions.

During the same speech, Hegseth announced the Autonomous Warfare Command to develop autonomous military capabilities. This development follows warnings from Pope Leo XIV against the creation of autonomous weapons. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops previously described the rise of such systems as a grave development in military technology in a backgrounder regarding the papal encyclical Magnifica Humanitas.

Hegseth also confirmed plans to reduce the number of positions reserved for admirals and generals by 20%, which doubles a 10% reduction he ordered last year. The Department of Defense stated the department is elevating spiritual readiness as a core element of combat effectiveness.