Camden, NJ — Today, national civil rights organization American Atheists filed a federal lawsuit against the United States Department of Defense (DOD) to compel the release of public records concerning the Pentagon’s decision to eliminate 180 religious identification codes, including those for atheists, Humanists, and Unitarian Universalists.
On June 4, 2026, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced sweeping changes to the military’s list of recognized religious affiliations, reducing the number of available codes from 211 to 31. Of the remaining options, two-thirds are Christian denominations.
“Our military members swear an oath to defend the Constitution, not to promote Pete Hegseth’s religious views,” said Nick Fish, President of American Atheists. “The very least the Trump Administration could do for the people putting their lives on the line to defend Americans’ constitutional freedoms is to respect their religious freedom rights.”
Days after Secretary Hegseth’s announcement, American Atheists submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request seeking information about how this decision was made, who was involved, and what consideration, if any, was given to the religious freedom rights of nonreligious service members.
The Pentagon has called the previous, larger list “unmanageable” and insists the new standardized codes will provide the Chaplain Corps with accurate religious demographics necessary to deliver tailored resources to service members.
American Atheists contends the reduction will make it impossible to accurately identify service members, assess their needs, and ensure they receive equal access to support services.
“Nonreligious and non-Christian members of the military deserve the same protections and accommodations afforded to their Christian counterparts, including basic recognition of their sincerely held beliefs and nonbelief,” said Geoffrey T. Blackwell, Legal Director of American Atheists.
To date, the DOD has produced no records in response to American Atheists’ request.
“The Pentagon claims these changes will help it better serve military personnel, but it refuses to release public records showing how eliminating designations for minority groups could possibly help achieve that goal,” continued Blackwell. “Hegseth owes service members and the American public an explanation, and we intend to get one.”
American Atheists’ lawsuit against the DOD comes after American Atheists filed a separate federal lawsuit against the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) over religious visas linked to human trafficking.
“This is the second time in less than two weeks we’ve taken the Trump Administration to federal court to get answers the American public deserves,” said Fish. “Whether it’s concealing information about religious organizations accused of violating human rights or refusing to explain why atheists are being erased from the military, the message is the same: This regime is willing to break the law in order to protect religious privilege.”
Through its lawsuit, American Atheists is asking the federal court to compel the DOD to conduct the required search and produce all responsive, nonexempt records in accordance with federal law.
