Washington, D.C. — Today, American Atheists submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the U.S. Air Force after the Secretary of the Air Force announced that those serving in that branch of the armed services have until October 16, 2026, to reclassify their religious affiliations in accordance with the Department of Defense’s new “Religious Affiliation Codes” or risk being automatically reclassified using what the Secretary described as “an approved transition construct.”
American Atheists’ latest FOIA request demands that the Air Force produce documents detailing the “approved transition construct” in order to ensure that the rights of atheists serving in the Air Force, the Air Force Reserve, and the Air National Guard are protected.
The Air Force Secretary’s action comes in the wake of the Department of Defense’s drastic changes to the list of “Faith and Belief Codes” that members of the armed forces can officially designate for themselves. The new “Religious Affiliation Codes” exclude more than 180 of the 211 previously existing codes, including atheists, humanists, and Unitarian Universalists.
Geoffrey T. Blackwell, Legal Director at American Atheists, released the following statement:
As a result of the Defense Department’s changes, the Secretary of the Air Force is now forcing atheist and humanist Airmen and Guardians to classify themselves as “agnostic” or simply “no religion,” regardless of their actual beliefs and worldviews.
These changes are clearly intended to deny atheist, humanist, and other nonreligious members of our armed forces the opportunity to seek the same protections available to their theistic comrades. Secretary Meink says these steps are meant to help chaplains “provide tailored resources and support” to service members, yet this action will undeniably harm atheists serving in the U.S. Air Force.
This administration continues to use religion as a way to marginalize atheists, humanists, minority religious communities, and anyone who doesn’t align with their extreme White Christian Nationalist ideology.
American Atheists encourages anyone serving in the Air Force, Air Force Reserve, or Air National Guard who is impacted by this directive to contact us.
FOIAs like this one, as well as others filed by American Atheists in recent months, will help us continue to call public attention to this administration’s abuses of power and mistreatment of those who have chosen to dedicate their lives to the defense of the United States. American Atheists previously sought information about the Trump Administration’s use of government agencies to proselytize to government employees and actively promote religious events.
