The Pentagon updated its list of religious faith codes Monday, removing specific Christian classifications for groups such as Catholic, Baptist, and evangelical denominations following pushback from Utah congressional leaders.
Reason for religious code changes
The change follows a proposal released last week that drew backlash in Utah because The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was not classified as a Christian faith, while other denominations were. KSLTV reported that the department updated the list on Monday to remove those specific labels.
Pentagon explains its reasoning
In a statement posted to X, the Pentagon said the previous list included redundant and unnecessary labeling and that the mistake has been fixed. The department added that its role is not to adjudicate theological debates but to ensure sincerely-held faith is respected within military ranks.
Utah Senator criticizes initial list
Utah Senator John Curtis criticized the initial list, stating it was unacceptable for a government entity to characterize a faith in a way that contradicts the religion's own tenets. A spokesman for Curtis noted the update occurred after conversations between the senator's office and the Pentagon on Monday morning.
Senator Lee reacts to update
Senator Mike Lee also expressed concerns over the weekend and indicated he had spoken with President Donald Trump regarding the matter. Following the update, Lee thanked Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for correcting the error.
Officials respond to final results
While the updated list does not explicitly identify The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as a Christian church, Representative Burgess Owens and other officials expressed gratitude for the Pentagon's swift correction.
