Utah Republican lawmakers are protesting a new Pentagon policy that removes The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the list of recognized Christian denominations in military personnel records. The change, spearheaded by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, reduces the number of faith codes from 200 to 31, with LDS now grouped under a broader category rather than the Christian designation.
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) called the decision “very unfortunate” and “offensive,” not only because it affects his own faith but also because it disregards the beliefs of tens of thousands of LDS service members. In a video posted on X, Lee urged the Pentagon to reverse course, saying, “Secretary Hegseth, tear down that wall! This is not cool! Get rid of it, get rid of it now!”
The Pentagon’s new list, announced Friday, allows service members to select from 31 faith groups, including Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu, Baha’i, or agnostic. Atheist, Wiccan, pagan, and humanist are not listed. The department says the changes are meant to streamline data collection and improve chaplain support, not to pass judgment on any religion.
Pentagon press secretary Sean Parnell defended the policy on X, calling it “long overdue” and emphasizing that it is “designed to allow chaplains to quickly look at the religious composition of their units and determine how they structure resources to best provide for warfighters of all faith groups.” He added that the department is not making “any claims on the legitimacy of any faith or religious belief.”
But Utah lawmakers remain unconvinced. Representative Mike Kennedy (R-UT) wrote on X that the Pentagon’s decision “is wrong and needs to be corrected.” He stressed that LDS members “stand alongside many Christians of every tradition in following the teachings of Christ” and that the government should not be in the business of adjudicating doctrinal disputes.
Senator John Curtis (R-UT) echoed those sentiments, calling LDS members “unequivocally Christian” and pointing to the church’s name as evidence. “It is unacceptable for a government entity to characterize a faith in a manner that contradicts the religion’s own foundational tenets,” he wrote on X, adding that he is working to secure a correction.
The controversy comes as Hegseth has faced other criticism from GOP lawmakers, including over his remarks on migration during a D-Day speech. The Pentagon has also been at the center of a broader debate over military culture and religious accommodation.
Lee later said he spoke by phone with President Trump and that the two discussed the Pentagon’s “Christian list.” In a post on X, Lee wrote, “I won’t speak for him, but I’m thrilled about where this is heading. Stay tuned.” The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether changes are forthcoming.
