Defense secretary Pete Hegseth faced backlash after leading a Pentagon prayer service that asked for \u201coverwhelming violence\u201d against enemies and \u201cno mercy\u201d for those considered deserving of it. The service came just as Hegseth was pushing to overhaul the military\u2019s chaplain corps, which he said had been diluted by \u201cpolitical correctness\u201d and \u201csecular humanism.\u201d\n\nThe article says Hegseth has increasingly blended his Christian faith with his role at the Pentagon, drawing criticism, legal complaints, and concern from veterans and church-state groups. Critics say the push risks turning the military into a vehicle for Christian nationalism and could undermine both religious neutrality and morale within the armed forces.