Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to give chaplains greater authority

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the creation of a new Office of Religious Affairs to give military chaplains a direct line to the leadership of the Department of Defense. During a State of the Force address on September 30 at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia, Hegseth stated the office will report directly to him and future secretaries of defense to remove secular bureaucratic layers between chaplains and senior decision-makers.

The new office is intended to provide chaplains with an advocate at the highest level of the Pentagon. Hegseth said the office will have authority to protect budgets, secure infrastructure, and strengthen religious support for the armed forces.

The Archdiocese for the Military Services welcomed the announcement, noting its potential to improve religious support for service members and their families. The archdiocese expressed hope that the change will improve conditions for chaplains accompanying soldiers, sailors, and airmen by prioritizing spiritual readiness and shortening the time between identifying needs in the field and making decisions at the top.