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The Unitarian Universalist Association has voiced its unwavering support for Unitarian Universalists in uniform and UU military chaplains in the wake of a move by the Department of Defense to remove 180 religious affiliations from the U.S. military’s list of religious affiliation codes.
The code for Unitarian Universalists was removed, along with those for humanists, atheists and pagan traditions, and many others, according to a June 4 article from news website Military.com. According to that report, the total number of faiths was cut from 211 to 31, as detailed in a May 20, 2026, government memorandum. UUs will be categorized under “Other” in the military’s religious affiliation codes.
In a statement, the UUA said it is working with counsel and partners in a variety of faith traditions to craft a strategic response “that faithfully represents our values and demonstrates clear support for our UU service members and their families, as well as all those who are impacted by this DOD policy.”
According to the statement: “…[T]oday, we declare that no government action can erase our faith nor lessen the powerful and necessary grounding it provides for those who serve.”
The UUA noted that the decision does not directly impact the status of UU military chaplains, who are authorized through a separate faith-based endorsement process with the UUA. “What it does mean is that Unitarian Universalist service members will not be able to select their specific religious identity in their personnel records,” the statement reads. “This may make it more difficult for our uniformed UUs to access the spiritual care that they need.”