Pete Hegseth 'backtracks' on controversial religious policy

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reversed a controversial Pentagon religious classification policy after Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) called it "repugnant" and contacted President Donald Trump directly.

A May 20 memo by Under Secretary of Defense Anthony Tata reduced military religious affiliation codes from 211 to 31, but excluded The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the Christian category.

The swift bipartisan backlash included Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) calling it "unacceptable" and Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ) demanding an explanation to LDS veterans.

By Monday afternoon, the Pentagon announced the reversal, including the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a standalone entry.

Curtis reacted on social media, "Thank you to the Department of War for listening to our concerns, engaging thoughtfully and respectfully with my office on this issue, and for delivering a swift correction," he wrote on X.

Capitol Hill correspondent Jamie Dupree concluded, the Pentagon backtracked.

However, atheist commentator Hemant Mehta criticized the revised list for still lumping atheists and agnostics together and collapsing smaller faiths into "Other Religions."

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