The U.S. Department of Defense has issued a new memo dramatically reducing the number of officially recognized religions for military personnel, cutting the list from over 200 faith codes to 31.

The Pentagon removed 180 faiths from its recognized religions list under the new directive. The previous system had accommodated more than 200 different faith codes that military personnel could select for their official records.

The consolidation represents a significant change in how the military categorizes and recognizes religious affiliations among service members. The Defense Department has not yet released detailed information about which specific faiths were removed or the criteria used for the consolidation.

Military personnel use these faith codes for various administrative purposes, including chaplain services, religious accommodation requests, and official records. The recognition of religious faiths can affect access to spiritual resources and religious practices within the military structure.

The timing and reasoning behind the Pentagon's decision to streamline the religious categories remains unclear, as does whether there will be an appeals process for faiths that were removed from the official list.