Hegseth prays for violence during Pentagon Christian service

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FILE - U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth answers questions during a ceremony for newly sworn in U.S. Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin in the Oval Office at the White House on March 24, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo

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WASHINGTON - During a Christian worship service at the Pentagon on Wednesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth prayed for violence against adversaries of the United States. 

What they're saying:

"Let every round find its mark against the enemies of righteousness and our great nation," Hegseth said during his prayer. "Give them wisdom in every decision, endurance for the trial ahead, unbreakable unity, and overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy." 

Hegseth said the prayer he read during the livestreamed event was first given by a military chaplain to the troops who captured then-President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela.

Hegseth and religion in the defense department

Hegseth is known for invoking his evangelical faith as head of the armed forces. 

He is known to depict a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes through its military. 

"I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed," he read from the Psalms on Wednesday.

Dig deeper:

Hegseth announced Tuesday two reforms in what he has described as "making the chaplain corps great again." He wants chaplains to focus more on God and less on therapeutic "self-help and self-care." In recent years, the military has become increasingly dependent on chaplains to help address the growing numbers of troops in mental health distress.

Hegseth also reduced the number of faith codes or religious affiliations the military recognizes. 

Previously, the military recognized more than 200 religious affiliations.  Since Hegseth took over, it only recognizes 31. 

The backstory:

Statements of faith are common in American public life, across political parties and religious traditions. 

Examples from history include President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s support of giving Bibles to troops. Hegseth regularly cites George Washington, who pushed to establish the military chaplain corps.

Military chaplains typically provide worship services within the defense department. As ordained clergy and commissioned officers, they minister from their specific tradition, but provide spiritual care to troops of any faith or no faith.

Lawsuit filed against the defense department

The other side:

On Monday, a lawsuit was filed against the defense department following church services at the Pentagon that were led by pastors who belonged to the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC).

The CREC is a conservative network co-founded by self-described Christian nationalist, Doug Wilson. 

Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the group who filed the lawsuit, said it aimed to enforce a previous public request that asked the Pentagon for internal communications about the worship service, their cost, guests and any complaints it may have received.