What A Day For Hegseth, It’s One Military Under God
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Apr 6, 2026 Michelle Boorstein, Washington Post religion reporter who covers faith in U.S. institutions, explains how a conservative evangelical worldview is reshaping Pentagon culture. She outlines unprecedented Pentagon worship services and policy rollbacks aimed at inclusion. She also describes reactions from service members and how religious language is being used to frame conflict.
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Pentagon Messaging Shift Toward Christian Nationalism
- Pete Hegseth is explicitly injecting Christian nationalist language into Pentagon messaging, framing the Iran conflict in religious terms.
- Hegseth asked Americans to "pray for them every day on bended knee... in the name of Jesus Christ," signaling a denominational shift in official rhetoric.
Hegseth's Religious Community And Beliefs
- Hegseth belongs to a small conservative denomination tied to dominionist and patriarchal beliefs.
- Michelle Boorstein notes his pastor has advocated that women shouldn't have individual voting rights and families should vote with men as heads.
Unprecedented Worship Services And Policy Changes
- Hegseth began hosting monthly evangelical worship services at the Pentagon, an unprecedented step for a defense secretary.
- He suspended the Army Spiritual Guide and proposed cutting recognized faith codes from ~200 to ~30, favoring certain Christian forms.