US Dept. of War Elevating Chaplaincy Corps Back to Spiritual Significance
US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth spoke via a Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) video Dec. 16, 2025 to announce immediate changes to directives given to military chaplains. He said George Washington’s original intent of establishing chaplains was that they were “to be the spiritual and moral backbone of our nation’s forces.” But he said that role has been degraded due to “an atmosphere of political correctness and secular humanism,” which has minimized chaplains to the role of “therapists, instead of ministers.”
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Watch the video and read the transcript below:
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“I’m here to tell you about a real problem facing our nation’s military. It’s one you’re probably not aware of, but it’s a really important one and it’s been going on for far too long: the weakening of our chaplain corps.
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“You see, chaplains are intended to be the spiritual and moral 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. Congress authorized chaplains for the Navy that very same year.
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“In Washington’s general orders, he explained their importance, quote, ‘The blessing and protection of Heaven are at all times necessary, but especially so in times of public distress and danger.’
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“For about 200 years the chaplain corps continued its role as the spiritual leader of our service members, serving our men and women in times of hardship and ministering to their souls.
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“But sadly—as part of the ongoing war on warriors—in recent decades its role has been degraded. In an atmosphere of political correctness and secular humanism, chaplains have been minimized, viewed by many as therapists instead of ministers. Faith and virtue were traded for self-help and self-care.
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“If you need proof, just look at the current Army Spiritual Fitness Guide. 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—9 times! There is zero mention of virtue. The Guide relies on New Age notions, saying that the soldier’s spirit consists of ‘consciousness, creativity, and connection.’ The Guide itself reports that around 82% of the military are religious, yet, ironically, it alienates our war fighters’ of faith by pushing secular humanism.
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“In short, it’s unacceptable and unserious. So we’re tossing it. I have a directive, right here, that I will sign today to eliminate the use of the Army Spiritual Fitness Guide effective immediately. These types of training materials have no place in the War Department.
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“Our chaplains are chaplains!—not emotional support officers—and we’re going to treat them as such. That’s why, today, at my direction, we are also simplifying the Faith and Belief Coding System. In recent years, it ballooned to over 200 overly complex ‘faith’ and belief codes. An overwhelming majority of the military population only uses 6 codes; 11 are not used by anyone. So we’re going to streamline it and move it to a new list of religious affiliation codes; so that our chaplains can actually use it to minister better to the flock.
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“More reforms will be coming in the days and weeks ahead. There will be a top-down cultural shift putting spiritual wellbeing on the same footing as mental and physical health, as a first step to creating a supportive environment for our warriors and their souls.
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“We’re going to restore the esteemed position of chaplains as moral anchors for our fighting force.
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“The 1956 Army Chaplains Manual states, quote, ‘The chaplain is the pastor and the shepherd of the souls entrusted to his care.’ End quote. This is a high and sacred calling. But this only works if our shepherds are actually given the freedom to boldly guide and care for their flock.
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“Stay tuned for more. We are going to make the chaplain corps great again. And Merry Christmas.”
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Also Read:
• Baptist Press: Hegseth Voices Support for Military Chaplaincy, Aims to Bolster Religious Freedom.
• US Dept. of Justice: Statement on Department of War’s Strengthening of the Chaplain Corps
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