Pentagon drops 'Christian' from recognized religion list after Mormon backlash, slashes total faiths to 31

—The Department of Defense removed the broad 'Christian' category from its official list of recognized military religions following an outcry from Latter-day Saints members who objected to Mormonism's exclusion from the designation. In a sweeping revision, the Pentagon also cut its total list of recognized faiths from hundreds down to just 31 officially acknowledged religions. Critics argue the reduction could affect the availability of chaplains and religious accommodations for service members.