A quiet reverence settled over the Pentagon courtyard on December 17, 2025, as hundreds of military and civilian personnel gathered for the first-ever Christmas Worship Service. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, fresh from a somber duty at Dover Air Force Base honoring fallen soldiers, stood ready to host a service unlike any seen within those walls before.
The weight of recent loss – two Iowa National Guard soldiers and an American interpreter lost in Syria – hung heavy in the air. Hegseth had personally witnessed their dignified transfer, a stark reminder of the sacrifices made for freedom. He spoke of their service, their dedication, and the profound belief that their spirits now rested in a higher power.
Rev. Franklin Graham led the congregation in prayer, his words echoing through the courtyard. Christian musicians Matthew West and Anne Wilson filled the space with uplifting melodies, creating an atmosphere of shared faith and reflection. It was a deliberate act, a turning point signaled by the new Secretary of War.
Hegseth framed the service within a historical context, recalling George Washington’s unwavering reliance on prayer during the darkest days of the Revolutionary War. Washington, recognizing the limits of human strength, had formally requested the creation of an Army Chaplain Corps – a tradition Hegseth sought to revitalize.
Less than a year into his tenure, Hegseth had begun a sweeping effort to re-center faith within the military. He believed the demands placed upon service members required a reliance on something beyond human capability, a connection to divine guidance. This conviction fueled a series of significant changes.
One of his first actions was the immediate removal of the Army’s “Spiritual Fitness Guide.” Hegseth found the document lacking, criticizing its focus on “New Age notions” and its omission of core virtues. He argued it reduced the human spirit to fleeting feelings, rather than grounding it in enduring faith.
He didn’t stop there. A memorandum titled “Restoring America’s Fighting Force” formally dismantled all diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) offices and initiatives across the War Department. Nearly 400 books containing DEI-related content were removed from military libraries, and related training was eliminated.
Hegseth was blunt in his assessment of DEI ideology, dismissing the notion of “diversity as our strength” as a damaging distraction. He insisted that unit cohesion, discipline, and a shared mission were the true foundations of a successful fighting force. The focus, he declared, would return to war fighting and preparation for victory.
Regular Pentagon prayer services were established, beginning in May 2025. These monthly gatherings, broadcast internally, featured Hegseth’s pastor, Rev. Brooks Potteiger, and opened with heartfelt prayers acknowledging dependence on a higher power. “King Jesus, we come humbly before you,” Hegseth prayed at the inaugural service.
He defended these services as voluntary and deeply rooted in American military tradition, drawing parallels to Washington’s prayers at Valley Forge. Appealing to Heaven, he asserted, was not a new practice, but a longstanding tradition vital to the strength and resilience of the armed forces.
Back at the Christmas service, Hegseth reiterated this point. Just as Washington had knelt in prayer during impossible circumstances, he explained, the modern military faced daily challenges that demanded reliance on something beyond human strength. It was a message of hope, a call to faith, and a bold declaration of a renewed purpose.
