Pentagon Revises Religious Classification List Following Criticism from Utah Senators

The Pentagon updated its religious classifications on June 8, 2026, after receiving criticism from Utah senators regarding the exclusion of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS) from the 'Christian' category. Last week, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell announced a reduction of the list from over 200 religious affiliations to 31, aimed at helping chaplains assess the religious composition of their units. However, the LDS was not prefixed with 'Christian,' leading to backlash from Senators Mike Lee and John Curtis, both members of the LDS. In response to the criticism, the Pentagon released a revised list that removed the 'Christian' preface for all religions. The updated list allows service members to identify as various Christian denominations, including LDS, as well as Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu, Baha’i, or agnostic, but does not include atheists, Wiccans, pagans, or humanists.