Commanders say Iran war will end, military nonprofit report
A nonprofit group focused on religious freedom said it had received more than 200 complaints, including statements by commanders that the Iran war was “God’s plan.”
- Experts and former military chaplains said there had been long-standing debates about religious freedom in the military, but tensions around those issues were rising amid Hegseth’s efforts to promote Christianity.
- The Military Religious Freedom Foundation said it had received more than 200 complaints from service members raising concerns about Christian nationalist sentiments in their superiors amid the Iran war.
- Hegseth’s narrower view of religion in the military reflects the Trump administration’s broader efforts to increase the presence of religion in public life.
The U.S. war on Iran has heightened existing concerns among some military personnel about the influence of Christian nationalism on the military under the leadership of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
The country launched a joint attack with Israel on February 28, killing Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei. As of March 5, at least 1,230 people had been killed in Iran, with many more deaths occurring across the Middle East.
Mikey Weinstein, founder and president of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, told USA TODAY on March 4 that the foundation has received “well over 200” complaints related to religious freedom from service members at more than 50 military installations since the war began.
One such accusation alleges that the commander told non-commissioned officers during a March 2 briefing that President Donald Trump was “anointed by Jesus to cause Armageddon and send a signal to Iran to commemorate his return to Earth.”
The Pentagon did not respond to inquiries from USA TODAY about whether it investigated or verified the accusations or whether commanders under Mr. Hegseth’s command are allowed to make such comments to their subordinates.
Hegseth has touted a clear religious vision for the military, demonstrated through initiatives such as monthly Christian services at the Pentagon and speeches like the one at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville, where he said, “The exaltation of[Christian]virtues is not just in the sanctuary, but in the public square.”
In interviews with USA TODAY, retired military chaplains and leading experts on military faith said the efforts mark a shift from how the Pentagon has traditionally approached religion. A more overtly Christian message could alienate those who don’t hold such beliefs and reduce cohesion, they said.
Hegseth agrees with Trump administration’s emphasis on religion
The Pentagon referred USA TODAY to a video Hegseth posted to X in December in which he called the perceived “weakening of our nation’s chaplain force” a “real problem facing our military.” USA TODAY requested an interview about the chaplaincy program and provided a list of questions about religion and the military.
In the video, Hegseth lamented that the military has taken a wrong turn over the years, avoiding explicit references to God in favor of a broader spirituality. Hegseth added that there is only one reference to God in the Army’s Spiritual Fitness Guide, and the document will be ignored going forward.
Hegseth quoted President George Washington, who founded the chaplaincy in 1775, saying, “Heaven’s blessing and protection are needed at all times, but especially in times of public distress or danger.”
Hegseth’s comments reflect the Trump administration’s broader tone and efforts to increase the presence of religion in public life.
In his 2026 State of the Union address, President Trump touted what he called a “tremendous renewal of religion, of faith, of Christianity, of belief in God” in this country.
Members of President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission have also expressed their belief that the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause does not prevent the government from promoting religion; it can and should do so.
In February, a group sued the commission, accusing it of an illegal lack of religious and ideological diversity. The federal complaint says the committee is “composed almost exclusively of Christians, including one Orthodox Jewish rabbi.”
President Trump also pledged to protect prayer in public schools during a Committee on Religious Freedom hearing in September, and once said in a speech that “we need religion to have a great country.”
A “Wrecking Ball” for the Pastor’s Purpose
Ronit Stahl, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of “Calling Faith: How Military Chaplains Shaped Modern American Religion and the Nation,” said the U.S. military has historically moved toward a more pluralistic treatment of religion over time, but the issue of religious freedom has long been debated and contested.
The chaplaincy was initially Protestant-only, but in the 19th century it introduced Catholic priests and rabbis.th century. The first Muslim pastor was installed in 1994, followed by the first Buddhist pastor in 2008.
In 1986, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Air Force could prohibit Orthodox Jewish service members from wearing yarmulkes while in uniform. Although his religious expression was suppressed, the court said the ban “reasonably and fairly” supported the military’s “recognition of the need for uniformity.”
Stahl also pointed to controversy in the early 2000s over allegations that Air Force Academy officers and cadets were proselytizing in favor of the evangelical Christian faith, fostering an environment less welcoming for service members of other faith traditions.
It was around this time that Weinstein founded the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. Since then, the organization has represented more than 100,000 service members in a variety of religious freedom matters, Weinstein said, adding that about 95% of the organization’s clients are Christians.
Guidelines for the Army Chaplain Corps, issued in February 2024 under the administration of former President Joe Biden, remained on the Army’s website as of early March, at which point it said the Chaplain Corps represented more than 100 religious groups.
The Chaplain Corps said it “cares about all soldiers and their families, regardless of their religious preferences, or even if they have no religious preferences at all.” It added that at that time, recruiters were “actively working to increase the diversity of the Corps,” particularly as it related to increasing the number of women serving as chaplains and increasing the representation of minority faiths in the chaplaincy.
Rabbi Joel Schwartzman, a client of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation who served as an Air Force chaplain for more than 20 years and retired as a full colonel, said Hegseth’s efforts “work against the whole purpose of chaplaincy.”
The Air Force’s recruiting website states that a “diverse chaplain force is essential” to meet the spiritual needs of service members in a “culturally, racially and religiously diverse environment.”
“He’s bringing in a wrecking ball for that purpose,” Schwartzman said.
Concerns about unit cohesion and morale
Schwartzman and other retired military chaplains told USA TODAY they were concerned about the impact of Hegseth’s narrower religious outlook on the morale and cohesion of the unit, saying his efforts were in stark contrast to the way he approached military service.
Steve Dundas, a retired Navy commander who served in the military for about 40 years and served as a military chaplain for about 30 years, talked about sending emails with “inspirational” messages to service members. They center around faith broadly, rather than specifically mentioning God, he said.
“They were so ecumenical that almost everyone could find something they liked,” he said.
He also sought to provide specific resources across a variety of religious traditions, including Islam, Judaism, and Wicca.
Dundas, who is also a client of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation, doesn’t think the same priorities are needed under Hegseth’s leadership. He specifically mentioned a service held at the Pentagon in February by the Rev. Doug Wilson, who promotes Christian nationalism, the belief that America is or should be a Christian nation, and opposes women’s right to vote.
Wilson heads the Reformed Evangelical Church Community, a denomination that includes the Tennessee church Hegseth attended.
“Unless you’re part of that group, you’re going to feel very uncomfortable. Traditionally, pastors didn’t minister that way,” Dundas said.
Military hierarchy makes it difficult to speak up
Although the Pentagon says military personnel’s attendance at such events is purely voluntary and not tracked, veterans say the military’s hierarchical structure creates pressure to attend events promoted by higher-ups, even if they are characterized as voluntary.
Weinstein said it was done “voluntarily.”
“Military superiors are not managers at Starbucks or Taco Bell,” he said. “They have complete and utter control over your life.”
He cited the military’s criminal law, the Uniform Act of Military Justice, which imposes stricter restrictions and harsher penalties on military personnel than on civilians.
Weinstein said it was dangerous for current military members to raise concerns because of the culture of respect for authority and severe penalties for deviation from norms. So he believes the organization is making a difference by raising such issues publicly while protecting service members from potential retaliation.
He said suing the Trump administration on such issues would require a willing plaintiff, but those directly affected by Hegseth’s actions are unlikely to pursue that option. Stahl agreed, saying it was “quite unusual given the potential impact” for military personnel to do such a thing.
A group of military parents sued the Pentagon in 2025 for removing certain educational materials from Pentagon-run schools under the guise of “wokeness.” In October, a district judge ordered the administration to return the materials while litigation over the issue continues.
Breanna Frank is USA TODAY’s First Amendment reporter. please contact her bjfrank@usatoday.com.
USA TODAY’s coverage of First Amendment issues is funded by the Freedom Forum in collaboration with our journalism funding partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.
