Secretary of War Pete Hegseth heralded the creation of the Pentagon's new Office of Religious Affairs by quoting from the Psalms, an announcement that drew criticism from secularist advocates and support from a Catholic archdiocese.
During his “State of the Force” address Wednesday at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Hegseth told junior officers and enlisted leaders that advanced technology, new bases and improved officer pipelines remain incomplete without faith, which he called “the most essential component of our Republic.” Pointing to the disruption that frequent moves cause in service members’ religious communities, Hegseth said troops need spiritual guidance wherever they serve.
“Our department therefore has a sacred duty — first-class religious support wherever we send our warriors,” he said. Hegseth criticized past administrations, saying political correctness and “secular humanism” had sidelined chaplains. “Budgets were cut. Resourcing and manpower needs were ignored. Base chapels fell apart,” he said. “Decisions about faith and religion were made by secular careerists in cubicles and lawyers running around with red tape.” “That ends now,” he added.
“Today, at my direction, I am establishing the Office of Religious Affairs." He said the office will report directly to the secretary with “no staff filters, no bureaucratic dilution.” He warned it wouldn’t be a “paper pushing shop” and “will have real teeth” to protect budgets, demand infrastructure and strengthen religious support so that “the experts, our chaplains, will finally have an advocate at the highest levels.” Quoting Psalm 33:12 — “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD” — Hegseth linked the move to the nation’s founding and the Continental Congress' establishment of the Chaplain Corps in 1775.
“Our department is, you might say, putting on the full armor of God,” he said. “Because while we wage physical war, we all know the real battle is spiritual. God