Viral Media Coverage Explodes Once Again as MRFF Helps Expose Hegseth’s Massive Slash to DoD Faith Classifications

June 8, 2026

The Department of Defense eliminated roughly 180 recognized religious faiths and belief systems from its official list — a sweeping rollback exposed by Military.com on June 4, 2026. Entire communities of service members have been erased overnight, including Atheists, Humanists, Pagans, Wiccans, Druids, Asatru, Deists, Spiritualists, New Age groups, and many more.

MRFF clients are already sounding the alarm. A former Army chaplain called the move “a tragedy and travesty” and “a violation of the United States Constitution.”

MRFF Founder and President Mikey Weinstein didn’t mince words, calling the new list “a middle finger to the Constitution’s separation of church and state” and warning that slashing hundreds of faiths down to just 31 is “an unconstitutional, immoral, and unethical push toward Christian nationalism.”

For more than 100,000 service members who rely on MRFF, this is a direct attack on their rights — and a moment that demands immediate action and support.

On Thursday, June 4, 2026, Nick Mordowanec reported at Military.com that:

Military.com has learned that the Department of Defense, for the first time in almost 10 years, has dramatically reduced its number of recognized religious faiths and belief systems by approximately 180…

This restructuring of faith codes, which help identify service members as well as the military in planning for appropriated religious coverage to include them, has now excluded minority faith/worldview groups including Atheists, Asatru, Deists, Druids, Eckankar, Heathens, Humanists, Magick, New Age churches, Pagan, Rosicrucianism, Shaman, Spiritualists, Troth, Unitarian Universalists and various Wiccans…

It represents a stark change from the memo administered in 2017, during President Donald Trump’s first term. The Armed Forces Chaplains Board at the time endorsed a faith and belief code expansion “to standardize and better identify religious preferences recognized by the military services.” ….

Due to combined pressure created by MRFF’s assistance and publication of this initial story, Capt. Jordan received the following notification on May 12, 2026:

“Good morning CPT. Jordan. I have been assigned as a 15-6 IO to ascertain facts concerning allegations against MAJ Blackledge for bullying, harassment, and counterproductive leadership.”

Nick Mordowanec included comments from two MRFF clients including the following observation of this action:

A former U.S. Army chaplain who now serves as an endorser told Military.com the revised list is “horrible.”

“When I raised my hand to become an Army chaplain, I swore that I would support and defend the Constitution,” the individual, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Military.com. “The First Amendment is the free exercise of religion for everybody. That’s what I was buying into.”

The individual said that oath years ago was never rescinded, which makes the new list “an excuse for the failure to provide the free exercise of religion for all people.” “That’s a tragedy and travesty, absolutely,” they said. “As far as I’m concerned, that’s a violation of the United States Constitution.”

Mr. Mordowanec also shared the comments of MRFF President/Founder Mikey Weinstein regarding this blatantly un-constitutional action:

The individuals who spoke with Military.com are two clients of among more than 100,000 represented by the.

[The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF)]’s co-founder Mikey Weinstein told Military.com that this new DOD list is a “middle finger to the United States Constitution’s separation of church and state.” The U.S. Air Force veteran […and MRFF client] said that codes like this have existed to perform services that sailors, soldiers, Marines, airmen or guardians want.

“Reducing the number of religious faiths from hundreds down to 31 is another absolute, clear, filthy and disgusting, unconstitutional, immoral and unethical attempt to force only the approved solution, getting closer and closer to Christian nationalism,” Weinstein said.

Viral media coverage inspired by MRFF and its clients:

THE CHRISTIAN POST
Dept. of War removes Wicca, about 180 other belief systems as recognized religions
By: Jon Brown
Friday, June 5, 2026

THE INDEPENDENT
LDS groups and Utah Republicans rage as military no longer counts church as Christian under Hegseth religion list shake-up
By: Josh Marcus
Sunday, June 7, 2026

MEIDAS TOUCH NEWS
Pentagon Quietly Drops 180 Religions From its Recognized List
By: Troy Matthews
Friday, June 5, 2026

UNIVERSAL LIFE CHURCH MONASTERY
The U.S. Military Just Erased 180 Faiths From Existence
By: The Universal Life Church Blog
Friday, June 5, 2026

 

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