During a briefing on the war in Iran, Hegseth suggested that Americans take a knee and pray to Jesus for the success of U.S. forces in the Middle East. Subsequently, he read a sermon praying that "wicked souls" be "delivered to eternal damnation" in the fight against Iran. These actions have raised concerns about the potential division of the armed forces due to the promotion of a specific religious ideology.

The Defense Secretary has used his position to promote his controversial brand of Christianity. While the Pentagon claims that Hegseth embraces America's Christian history, some experts and veterans fear that injecting explicitly religious sentiments into the military threatens the diversity and unity of the armed forces.

Matthew Taylor, a visiting scholar at Georgetown University's Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, expressed concern about the way Hegseth is operating, both from a Christian and an American perspective. Taylor emphasized the importance of maintaining diversity in the military, representative of the American population as a whole.

Hegseth, who served in Iraq and Afghanistan before becoming a Fox News host, has led prayer services in the Pentagon, revamped the military's Chaplain Corps, and used official Defense Department social media to amplify ultra-conservative Christian viewpoints.

Hegseth has frequently invoked his faith in reference to the war conflict, such as on March 10, when he referenced Psalm 144 from the Bible. Recently, he announced changes in the Chaplain Corps, including the elimination of traditional rank insignia in favor of insignia that reflect religious affiliation, arguing that the spiritual health of service members is as important as their physical and mental health.

Before being appointed head of the Pentagon, Hegseth criticized military efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion, labeling them as discriminatory ideologies that drive away young Christian patriots. Data from the Department of Defense from 2019 indicate that approximately 70% of the 1.3 million active-duty personnel are Christian.

In his first year at the Pentagon, Hegseth implemented a policy that bans transgender soldiers, removed diversity from the ranks, initiated a review on whether women should serve in combat roles, and reevaluated the Department of Defense's partnership with Scouting America for its inclusion of female scouts.

In September, at an unusual gathering of generals and admirals, Hegseth spoke of prayer, Jesus, and "all precious souls made in the image and likeness of God," along with plans for new fitness standards and a return to the warrior ethos. In addition, he began a monthly prayer service at the Pentagon, inviting controversial figures such as Doug Wilson, a pastor who has argued that women should be denied the right to vote.

Fred Wellman, an Army veteran who ran for Congress, criticized Hegseth for using his official position to promote his religion, which, he said, must end and be investigated. Nancy Lacore, a retired Navy rear admiral, argued that inviting Wilson sent a troubling message to the troops.

On the other hand, Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson defended Hegseth's actions, stating that the Christian faith is deeply rooted in the nation and that the secretary embraces this heritage. Hegseth has held at least 10 optional prayer services, inviting pastors and religious figures. Hegseth, on his personal account, has shared a CNN segment about the pastor with the phrase "All of Christ for All of Life," a slogan to embrace Christianity in all areas of society.

Hegseth was the headline speaker at the National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) 2026 International Christian Media Convention, where he declared that divisive diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), gender-bending equity and quotas, and climate change worship to a false God were gone. The same message is frequently seen on official Pentagon social media accounts.

Hegseth wears his Christian faith on his sleeve, with a tattoo on his arm with the words "Deus Vult" or "God wills it," a motto from the Crusades, as well as a tattoo on his chest depicting a Jerusalem Cross. Steven Bucci, a visiting fellow at the Heritage Foundation, believes there is less concern about Hegseth's fervent religiosity than commentators seem to think.