The Pentagon’s new 31-code list reshapes how military chaplains plan religious support for the force. The Pentagon just erased 180 religions from the U.S. military’s official rolls.
The Hegseth military faith list changes cut recognized faith codes from more than 200 down to just 31.
If you or someone you love wears the uniform, this sets which beliefs chaplains are now told to plan for.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The recognized list drops from 200+ faith codes to 31, removing 180 faiths.
- A May 20, 2026 memo from Under Secretary Anthony Tata, directed by Pete Hegseth, made it official.
- Major Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh and Agnostic codes stay; Pagan, Wiccan, Druid and Asatru are out.
What exactly changed?
Here is the short version. The military is not banning any religion. Hegseth Military Faith List Changes has shrunk the menu chaplains use to log and plan religious support.
| What changed | Before | Now |
| Recognized faith codes | 200+ (about 211) | 31 |
| Faiths removed | None | 180 |
| Last major revision | March 27, 2017 | May 20, 2026 |
When did the changes happen?
The rollout has been months in the making, and the cut became official this week, as Fox News reported. A 60-day window now applies for the services to update their systems.
| Date | What happened |
| Sept 2025 | Hegseth publicly singles out “Nordic Pagans” |
| Dec 2025 | Announces plan to “make the Chaplain Corps great again” |
| March 2026 | Faith-code cut and chaplain insignia change previewed |
| May 20, 2026 | Under Secretary Anthony Tata signs the memorandum |
| June 2026 | 180 faiths officially removed; 60-day rollout begins |
Which faiths stay, and which are dropped?
The new 31 religious affiliation codes keep the largest traditions in the force. Smaller groups, including Pagan, Wiccan, Druid and Asatru designations, fall off the official list. Importantly, troops are not limited to these 31 codes for the faith printed on their dog tags.
| Still recognized (sample) | Dropped (sample) |
| Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist | Pagan |
| Judaism, Islam, Hindu, Buddhist | Wiccan |
| Sikh, Agnostic | Druid |
| …31 codes in total | Asatru / Heathen (and ~176 others) |
Why is the Pentagon shrinking the list?
The change is the latest step in Hegseth’s Chaplain Corps overhaul. Our reading of the official rationale comes down to three points:
- The old system had “ballooned to well over 200 faith codes” and was called impractical.
- About 82% of religious members use only six codes, the department says.
- A shorter list is meant to give chaplains clearer, faster information to plan support.
The two chaplaincy changes at a glance
The faith-code cut arrived alongside a second, visual change for chaplains.
| Change | Old | New |
| Faith / belief codes | 200+ codes | 31 codes |
| Chaplain uniform insignia | Rank insignia | Religious insignia |
| System name | Faith & belief codes | Religious affiliation codes |
What should service members watch for?
Hegseth Military Faith List Changes has you serve, here is what our team would keep an eye on:
- Whether your faith still has a code, and how to record it if it does not.
- Any change to how you request a chaplain or specific religious support.
- The new religious insignia chaplains will wear in place of rank.
- Updates from your unit during the 60-day transition.
Who is pushing back?
Not everyone is on board.
A former Army chaplain described the revised list as “horrible.” Critics warn the cut could leave some troops without clear faith support and raise religious-liberty questions.
The move also lands amid broader church-and-state scrutiny of Hegseth’s Pentagon worship services.
Our take
Our analysis suggests this is mostly an administrative reset, not a ban on belief.
Still, the faiths left off the list will be watching closely to see whether “streamlined” quietly becomes “sidelined.”
Hegseth military faith list changes will update this story as the services roll out the new codes.
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Reporting drawn from Military.com, Fox News, Military Times, The Wild Hunt and Religion News Service.
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