A new controversy over religion in the military has erupted between Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the advocacy group Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF). According to an MRFF, by Sept. 2 it had received 27 complaints from military personnel at Kirtland Air Force Base that guards at the base entrance were greeting everyone entering with “God bless you.” MRFF in turn complained to the Air Base and the greetings stopped.
Responding on Sept. 4 with posts on X, Secretary of War Hegseth said:
The MRFF is a radical anti-Christian, pro-atheist group that attacks any/all faith inside the @DeptofWar. We will never cave to them. The @usairforce will confront this.
And Air Force Chief of Staff, General Ken Wilsbach posted:
Defenders at our gates not only protect our installations by also welcome everyone entering courteously and professionally. The Department of the Air Force’s Policies are unchanged. We are not restricting the use of common greetings while entering our bases.
Military.com reports on the controversy.